Monte Verde, Mountain district in Camanducaia, Brazil.
Monte Verde spreads across the southern slopes of the Mantiqueira range in Minas Gerais state, built from clusters of small settlements scattered along gentle ridges and narrow valleys. Atlantic rainforest covers the surroundings, and cobblestone lanes link guesthouses, restaurants, and small shops together.
In the middle of the 20th century, a Latvian immigrant named Verner Grinberg bought a fazenda in this remote area and founded a settlement. His family built the first houses and paths, and over the following decades more German and Latvian families moved in, shaping the place.
Many restaurants here speak German, and interiors echo Alpine chalets, with timber beams and heavy tables that nod to Central European traditions. Visitors meet families who keep recipes and crafts from Latvia and Germany alive, from handmade sausage to stews that recall colder latitudes.
Visitors reach the area via the Fernão Dias highway, from which narrow paved roads climb into the settlement; winter months can bring fog that limits views. Most hiking trails begin at marked access points along the main road, and sturdy footwear is advisable because ground is often damp.
A small airstrip sits at roughly 1,560 meters (5,118 ft) elevation, making it the highest in the country; on clear days private planes land amid forests and fog banks. Winter temperatures occasionally drop below zero, and residents light wood stoves to warm their rooms.
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