Nacional 103 on the tourist roads route in Northern Portugal
The first step towards a common meeting to enhance and promote this road is taking place today in Bragança, which crosses the 12 municipalities via this connection and the Regional Tourism Entity of Porto and North.
The region, as advanced by the president of this entity, Luís Pedro Martins, wants to put on the map of international roads the most beautiful in the world” and set “is defined for N103.
“Today we finally took a very important step towards structuring and promoting the N103”, he added in the future, referring to the meeting he attended with representatives of the 12 municipalities served by this road.
The N103 extends for 274 kilometers, and crosses the North of Portugal, from the Minho coast, in the town of Neiva, in Viana do Castelo, to the city of Bragança, passing through Barcelos, Boticas, Braga, Chaves, Esposende, Montalegre, Póvoa de Lanhoso, Valpaços, Viana do Castelo, Vieira do Minho and Vinhais.
“Twelve municipalities, a tourism region, two protected areas and five Intermunicipal Communities (CIM) with a common “heritage”: Estrada Nacional 103 (N103)” is the summary that the promoters make of this project.
Those traveling on this road cross territories such as the Peneda-Gerês National Park, the Montesinho Natural Park, Transfrontier Biosphere Reserves and the Pisões Dam.
The promoters of the project emphasize that the territory adds “a unique wealth in terms of gastronomy, autochthonous races and endogenous products, historical, religious and scientific heritage”.
After the meeting for the first strategy, the next step could work on surveying the points of interest in each of the promotion sets, the mayor of Bragança Hernâni Dias, as the work of the meeting.
The strategy, according to the municipality, will then be applied for funding from Turismo de Portugal and then work will begin to promote the common route.
“We recognize the tourist potential of Estrada Nacional 103 and the common territories they cross, so the objective is to promote the vast heritage, wealth and encourage its enjoyment, whether on foot, by existing motorcycle, by bicycle or by car”, he highlights.