The Village of Fafião
Nestled in the heart of Peneda-Gerês National Park, you find a small mountain village named Fafião. It’s built out of stone houses, where history is etched into every rock and tradition lingers in the mountain air. When walking through the narrow streets, Fafião’s connection to the Iberian wolf is impossible to miss. Everywhere you look, you find references, big or small, to this (in)famous animal.
At War with the Wolf
In the past, life in Fafião was harsh. Isolated between mountains and rivers, its people relied entirely on their own food production. They took their goats and cows up the mountains for grazing. A risky practice, as wolves would be waiting to attack. At those times, a lost sheep or goat meant more than just the loss of an animal – it meant hunger. And so, revenge followed every attack. The fojo do lobo, a large stone trap, was built to lure and kill the wolves that threatened the village’s survival. For centuries, these hunts continued, and the last recorded use of the trap dates back to 1948.
A Changing Perspective
Today, wolves still attack livestock, but something has changed. The people of Fafião recognize that while a lost goat is a financial burden, it no longer means hunger. Rather than fighting the wolf, the village embraces it as a part of its heritage.
The Associação Vezeira, a local organisation, helps promote a more positive view of the wolf. Over the years, awareness of conservation efforts has grown, and the Iberian wolf, once an enemy, is now seen as an essential part of the landscape.
Traces of the Wolf
Exploring Fafião, the wolf’s presence is everywhere. Statues and images depict its elusive figure, and the fojo do lobo still stands as a reminder of a time when humans and wolves were adversaries.
Experiencing the Story of Fafião
Walking through Fafião, past the ancient fojo do lobo and the surrounding hills where wolves still roam, one cannot help but reflect on the delicate balance between tradition and conservation. The story of this village is one of transformation – from fear to respect, from hunting to protection. But it is also a reminder that coexistence is never simple. It is a conversation still unfolding, shaped by the voices of those who live it.
Perhaps the best way to understand is to experience it firsthand – to walk the same paths, hear the same stories, and see the land where the wild still lingers.
Join us on a journey through the landscapes of Peneda-Gerês National Park, where the past and present meet, and the call of the wolf still echoes in the mountains.
