Boom is held in a place made up of history, secular culture, and a dreamy nature.
Boom is situated in the Geopark Naturtejo. A Geopark (Global Network of National Geoparks created by UNESCO) is a place where geological heritage and geological knowledge are linked with broader aspects of the natural and cultural environment, which are often closely related or determined by geology and landscape.
Geopark Naturtejo is one of the 53 selected National Geoparks from 17 countries in the world.
The Boom venue is surrounded by both a sublime nature and a secular culture embedded in the villages around Boom. It is also a region where there are some of the most ancient records of human presence in Portuguese territory (ancient natives called “Lusitanos”, romans, moors or knights of templar).
This mountainous region originated a habitat of small towns coexisting intimately with Mother Nature. Some of them have resisted winds of historical changes and remain as living proof of times past. One of the attractive aspects of this area is a circuit of Historical villages.
Idanha-a-Nova: The Nearest Point
It’s the nearest village to Boom Festival. All basic commodities are available here.
It’s difficult to pinpoint its origins but it’s assumed that the construction of the castle in 1187 by the Knights of the Temple is a landmark. Presently, in this region the ancient and the contemporary live in harmony.
This village breathes history. We can see the ruins of the Castle, Churches, Chapels, Palaces, stoves for the community or museums.
All the small towns surrounding the festival are very unique and are a way to discover the most remote origins of this area of Iberian Peninsula.
Other Villages Near the Boom
The 10 Historical Villages are placed in an area that is covered by Serra da Estrela (Star Mountain Range), the highest ridge of mountains in continental Portugal. Is a field of great historical and cultural heritage with its populations, weather, ancestral habits and natural paradises.
Agriculture is very important and some of its riches are local wine, cheese, chestnut or olive-oil. Constant in the landscape is stone, great masses of it, specially granite and schist, originating wonderful scenarios.
Close to the Boom Festival 2012 are 3 of the 10 existent Portuguese Historical Towns, namely: Monsanto, Idanha-a-Velha e Penha Garcia.
Monsanto
A must-see village. Very ancient place with registers of human presence since the Palaeolithic. The archaeology has found also Lusitanian marks and Roman villages and thermal baths. Evidences of Arabic and from the Knights of the Templar presence are also found.
Monsanto has a unique mystic to itself, is a village where the influences from the past have a strong input to its character. Its highest point is at 758 metres.
Penha Garcia
Penha Garcia impresses by the majesty of its position and na amzing valley full of fossils. It was na ancient fortress. From the past remain the castle, churches, the geographical marks and some pieces of the struggles during Napoleonic invasions. From the top we can observe a great valley with the Ponsul river, with its ancient mills.
Exotism made by natural conditions that shows geomorphologic and fossils with 480 million years. There are some people in this area that still remember gold prospectors looking for gold in the sands of the river.
Idanha-a-Velha
Idanha-a-Velha is 15 Km from Idanha-a-Nova, 12 Km from village of Monsanto. It was possibly founded in I A.C. After Lusitanians and Romans came the Germans, Swedish and Muslims, and in the end the Knights of the Templar took control of the place. The name “Idanha”- has its origin in two words: the Visigothic “Egitania” and Arabic “Idania”.
Its patrimony includes a rich legacy of ancient peoples like the Lusitanians, Romans, Visigothics, Swedish, Germans, Muslims. The Medieval influence as well makes this region very rich and unique historically and culturally.
Termas de Monfortinho (Monfortinho Termal Waters)
Here is the idyllic place to rest before, after or during the Boom! Monfortinho is a small town placed in Serra de Penha Garcia (Penha Garcia Mountain), the place that originates the Erges River.
Here you can feel medicinal waters, with its miraculous powers. Bacteriological pure, with high standards of minerals and thermals, these waters are good for the health. You can rest and have some days in good and peaceful pools with na ambience of healthy waters.
Natural Patrimonies
The fauna around here is amazing we can discover many different rare and nearly extinct species. There are almost 277 different vertebrates, like wolfs, fox, harts or eagles.
We need to mention also the flora and vegetation, being identified 47 families, and 192 genres with a sum of 322 species. Jasmine, olives, cork-oak, pine-tree, oak or roses are just a few beings that can be seen almost everywhere.
Most importantly here you can have a taste of the History of the Earth. You need to pay a visit to Penha Garcia village and find fossils with about 480 million of years.
ACCOMMODATION
IDANHA-A-NOVA
Hotel Estrela da Idanha – 277 200 500
Casa das Jardas – Turismo Rural das Jardas, Lda 277 202 135
Parque de Campismo Municipal 277 202 793
Pousada da Juventude 277 201 127
LADOEIRO VILLAGE
Hotel Idanhacaça 277 927 130
MONFORTINHO TERMAL WATERS
Hotel Astória 277 430 400
Hotel Fonte Santa 277 430 300
Pensão Boavista 277 434 213
Pensão Residência Portuguesa 277 434 218
Pensão das Termas de Monfortinho 277 430 310
Casas da Raia
Pensão Caetano 277 434 164
Pensão Garrancho 277 434 214
Pensão Martins 277 434 264
Pensão Residência Familiar 277 434 279
Pensão Luís 277 434 152
Pensão Beira Baixa 277 434 115
Residencial Nogueira 277 434 293
Residencial Felicidade 277 434 143
MONSANTO
Pousada de Monsanto 277 314 471
Casa da Maria 277 314 457
OLEDO
Casa de Oledo 277 937 132
