History

A living symbol of the mountains and Portuguese tradition

The Serra da Estrela goat is much more than just a grazing animal - it’s an icon of Portuguese rural culture, deeply linked to the identity of the mountain range that gives it its name. Raised for thousands of years on the slopes of Serra da Estrela, this native breed represents an ancestral heritage that lives on in the hands of the shepherds and traditions of the region.

Ancient origins

Studies indicate that the ancestors of these goats descend from wild species such as the European and Asian mouflon, domesticated around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent region. With human migrations, they arrived in the Iberian Peninsula, adapting to the unique conditions of the Serra da Estrela.

For centuries, shepherds practiced transhumance

—moving their flocks between valleys and plateaus according to the seasons. This practice shaped not only the landscape but also the way of life of local communities, which continue this tradition to this day.