FUNDÃO
N 40º 7' 48''; W 7º 30' 0''
It is the seat of a municipality with 700.20 km² in area and 29,213 inhabitants (2011), subdivided into 23 parishes. The municipality is limited to the north by the municipalities of Covilhã, Belmonte, and Sabugal, to the east by Penamacor and Idanha-a-Nova, to the south by Castelo Branco, to the southwest by Oleiros, and the west by Pampilhosa da Serra.
The city of Fundão is located at the foot of Monte de São Brás, a branch of the Serra da Gardunha, on the plateau of Cova da Beira, at an altitude of about 500 meters.
Climate
Fundão has a Mediterranean climate of the Csa type, that is, with hot summers. Days over 30 ° C occur frequently, about 55 per year on average, and summers are dry. Winters are relatively cold and rainier, with days below 0 ºC occurring with some frequency, around 23 per year.
Economy
The city is an important local center for commerce, services, and industry. The municipality comprises part of the most fertile lands in the region, the great valley of Cova da Beira, where the Zêzere River and its numerous tributaries pass. Large productions are made of cherries and sour cherries, peaches, olive oil, and wine.
In the municipality of Fundão, there are about 300 cherry growers who provide direct employment, during the cherry season, to nearly two thousand people. The Fundão cherry and the products created with this fruit represent more than 20 million euros per year in the local economy.
There are tungsten mines, in Panasqueira (belonging to the municipality of Covilhã), and whose workers over the decades, made their living in Silvares, contributing a lot to its economy and development. Among the most important of its type of the world, also of lead and tin. There are quantities of silver and gold. Its mineral water is one of the most sold in Portugal.
At the north exit to Covilhã along the EN18, several industries and trades of interest were developed up to the national level, such as the transformation of wood, granite, glass, and swimming pools, and a special investment in the jewelry polishing industry. In this area, there are several hotels, restaurants, and swimming pools of tourist interest.
Fundão Cherry
An important aspect of this municipality is the excellent endogenous products in this region, namely chestnuts, olive oil, mushrooms, cheese, sausages, and cherry also known as “red gold”, considered by many to be the best in the world.
In recent years, the cherry has become the hallmark of this region, which produces an average of around six thousand tons of cherries per year. From this fruit, gastronomic innovations have been born, such as the Fundão cherry cake. This was first presented at the Alcongosta Cherry Festival in 2011, has been an immediate success, with more than three thousand pastries sold. Simultaneously, the pastry became available in almost all confectioneries and pastry shops in the Cova da Beira region. This Pastel is registered with the National Institute of Industrial Property.
