Alcoutim 1 River Guadiana 1 Rock roses 2 2 Martinlongo Mother Church to the Northwest the to From the Guadiana Guadiana the From Along the Inland Rural Algarve Rural Guadiana Valley 1 Northeast 2 Secrets of of Secrets Castro Marim > Afonso Vicente Odeleite > Fonte Zambujo Under the dominant influence of We discover the real nature of the the great river of the south, we find Alcoutim Castle 1 rural way of life, along with an ourselves in a landscape of saltpans archaeometallurgical and natural St. Sebastian Fortress - Castro Marim 1 Saltpans - Castro Marim 1 and wetlands, reservoirs and streams. heritage of great richness. The River Guadiana comes into view This route takes us into the interior of the Algarve. at every turn as, over hills and across We soon start to discover its genuine, unspoilt valleys, our path uncovers age- nature, expressed in the landscape, local customs old traces of civilisations from the and people. Throughout our journey we come across water lifting machinery, large and small reservoirs and Neolithic to the Roman and Moorish many imposing watercourses. Everywhere we look occupation. there are agreeable ways of living, in the peace and quiet where the holm oak stands alongside the more We follow the course of the River Guadiana from Castro recent pine, and everywhere there is Mediterranean Marim to Afonso Vicente. Keeping close to the Guadiana, Hills 2 scrub forest. The rural way of life may be preserved we meander among saltpans, wetlands, hills and valleys, in various museums but here in real life we can tread Chapel of St. António - dams, streams and jetties. In a landscape where the river Castro Marim 1 Odeleite Reservoir 2 beaten earth roads, sample bread and sausages, comes into view at every turn, the flora and fauna confirm rest on stone benches outside houses and swap a that all is well here. Here we find river beaches, fishing, eel word or two of conversation. If it is the signs of a stews and the appetising lamprey. The river is close at hand rich archaeometallurgical and natural heritage that and a constant friend. The signs of simple skills – wicker we are looking for, then this is the route to take. basketwork, bobbin lace, miniatures in wood - appear. We come across age-old traces of human occupation from the Neolithic to Phoenician, Roman and Moorish times: castles, defensive walls, circular turrets and square towers. And the pleasure of discovering the rural architecture as we enter each village – communal ovens, barns and haylofts. 2 Dolls Castro Marim Castle 1 Credits Cultural Heritage Afonso Cortes Cultural Heritage Local Products Água Vicente Pereiras Santa 21 19 Cerro das 18 Clarines 20 18 1 Castro Marim Castle Relíquias 19 17 1 Odeleite Church 13 Jute Dolls Farelos 16 Publisher and Copyright Owner 2 Castro Marim Mother Church Castelhanos 2 Pernadas Water Mill 17 20 14 15 Turismo do Algarve 2012 © February 5 Espírito Santo Mother Church 13 12 4 Monte das Furnazinhas [email protected] 15 13 14 11 16 www.turismodoalgarve.pt 6 Azinhal Cultural Centre Barrada Santa Justa 12 5 Soudes Windmill 21 Montinho11 Natural Heritage www.visitalgarve.pt 7 Rural architecture in Alcarias Monte das Ferrarias Fonte Zambujo das Laranjeiras 10 6 Vaqueiros Mother Church 10 Guerreiros do Rio 9 Roman reservoir at Álamo 9 Laranjeiras 7 Vaqueiros Museum Registered Office 8 7 9 Furnazinhas Álamo 3 Ribeira de Odeleite and Odeleite 10 Museum of the River 6 Soudes 9 Rural architecture in Monte das Av. 5 de Outubro, 18 5 Reservoir 8000-076 Faro, Algarve, Portugal 11 Montinho das Laranjeiras Roman 4 Vale Ferrarias do Pereiro 122 8 Villa Foz de Odeleite 11 Church of Nossa Senhora da 8 Fonte da Parra and Vaqueiros Casas Baixas 2 Telephone: 289 800 400 3 Alcarias Conceição Reservoir 12 Rural architecture in Montinho das 1 Fax: 289 800 489 Laranjeiras 7 12 Chapel of São Sebastião 10 Ribeira da Foupana Almada de Ouro Coordination 14 Alcoutim Castle 6 14 Barrada Museum Marketing Department 15 Archaeological Museum 5 15 Santa Justa Museum Turismo do Algarve 16 Salvador Mother Church - Alcoutim 4 16 Chapel of Santa Justa [email protected] Beliche 17 Chapel of Santo António 17 Giões Mother Church Graphic Design and Layout 18 Museum of Sacred Art 18 Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira DCB design 21 Lavajo Menhir 1 3 19 Farelos Museum 2 Texts: 20 Church of São Marcos Archives of Turismo do Algarve 21 Fonte Zambujo Museum Photography Hélio Ramos, Luís da Cruz, F32, Archives Natural Heritage Note: Prior reservation is needed to visit of Turismo do Algarve (Pedro Reis, Hugo the museums. Please contact Alcoutim Santos, Rafaela Oliveira) 3 Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo Municipal Council. António Wetlands Nature Reserve Translation: 4 Beliche Reservoir Euroscript Portugal, Lda. 8 Ribeira de Odeleite and Foz de Odeleite Distribution Flamingos 1 Giões Mother Church free 13 Pontal Viewpoint 19 Pego Fundo river beach Cover: Beliche Reservoir 1 Praia Fluvial de Alcoutim 20 Alcoutim Reservoir Key ROUTE 1 CASTRO MARIM > AFONSO VICENTE Barranco PROTECTED LANDSCAPE ROUTE 2 RAILWAY ODELEITE > FONTE ZAMBUJO 1 2 3 4 EN Lisboa Co-financed by 0Km 5Km 10Km PRINCIPAL ROADS Faro SECONDARY ROADS Afonso Cortes Corpo de Deus Fair / Martinlongo: on Vicente Pereiras sanctuary and breeding ground for numerous species of fish, molluscs river of the south. Those who wish can stay the night here in farmhouse 21 19 Useful Information Corpus Christi Day River Guadiana Castro Marim Mother Church 20 18 and crustaceans. One of the most important wetlands in Portugal, it is accommodation enjoying the silence and reconnecting with country life 17 Castro Marim Annual Fair: 24 June Along the 16 Services and Official Bodies in its simplest and most authentic expression. Azinhal Annual Fair: 20 August home to over 200 species of aquatic birds all year round, including the 14 15 Municipal Councils: We continue on the same road until we arrive at the small village of Castro Marim Annual Fair: 25 August 1 flamingo and the spoonbill. The Reserve is also home to the little bustard Castro Marim 281510740 13 Guadiana Valley and the lesser short-toed lark, and a nesting ground for the spectacled Laranjeiras and Montinho das Laranjeiras. The remains of Montinho das Alcoutim 281540500 12 Laranjeiras Roman villa (11) were discovered here, making the place Montinho11 Health Centres: Events and Festivals warbler, the collared pratincole and the stone curlew. das Laranjeiras 10 Guerreiros do Rio First of May Celebrations: Odeleite / an important archaeological and tourist attraction. The upland rural Laranjeiras Castro Marim 281531100 Castro Marim > Afonso Vicente We continue on EN 122 and turn left at the Junqueira exit, following 9 Azinhal 281495232 Bentos / Alcoutim architecture is evidenced in communal ovens, stone-built houses, haylofts, Furnazinhas Álamo municipal highway 1132, and after about 3 km we reach Beliche and Alcoutim 281540140 Espírito Santo Pilgrimage / Azinhal: last barns and water lifting devices such as scoop wheels and wells (12). Vale Sunday in May Beliche Reservoir (4). The richness of the natural landscape is a perfect do Pereiro 8 National Republican Guard: Foz de Odeleite setting for a quiet walk, a picnic or just watching fishermen at work. We continue in the direction of Alcoutim and after 3 km we come to Casas Baixas Castro Marim 281531004 5-a-side football marathon / Alcarias Pontal Viewpoint (13), an excellent place to admire the surrounding Alcoutim 281546208 Martinlongo: July Wetland Castro Marim Castle We return to the EN 122 and continue to the delightful village of Azinhal, 7 Martinlongo 281498131 Feast Day of São João / Guerreiros do where we recommend a visit to the Espírito Santo Mother Church (5). landscape or have a picnic. Almada de Ouro Fire Brigade: Rio: weekend nearest to St John’s Day Azinhal Cultural Centre (6) should not be missed. The Saber das Mulheres We arrive at Alcoutim, a charming town with superb views over the 6 (June) 5 Alcoutim 281540450 museum narrates the important role of women in various craft industries, River Guadiana and neighbouring Spain which was conquered from Festival in honour of Our Lady of Tourist Offices: especially in the production of bobbin lace. And before leaving Azinhal, the Moors in 1240. The 14th century Alcoutim Castle (14) is classified as 4 Castro Marim 281531232 Martyrs / Castro Marim: 15 August Beliche a Building of Public Interest. The Archaeological Museum here (15) has Alcoutim 281546179 Medieval Days in Castro Marim: last don’t forget to try the regional cakes and puddings or the cheeses and exhibitions of the municipality’s archaeological heritage recounting a Associations: weekend in August excellent wine. nd history that stretches back 5000 years. Places and artefacts steeped in an 1 3 Alcance 281546428 Alcoutim Summer Festival: 2 Friday in We continue on the EN 122 and after 3 km we make a detour to Almada 2 Odiana 281531171 September de Ouro, a little hamlet on the banks of the Guadiana. This is a place for age-old memory convey cultures and knowledge which in distant times ANA 281495237 Dances, football tournaments, etc / pleasant walks that immerse us in the area’s natural and environmental overlapped in the land that is today Alcoutim. Our next visit is to Salvador Associação Terras do Baixo Guadiana Alcoutim: all year de Alcoutim Mother Church (16) with its characteristic weathervane in the 281546285 beauty. Santos Populares Festival / Castro form of a cockerel. This simple church is one of the finest buildings of the Marim: June We continue to Alcarias, situated on the top of a hill. This is a “viewpoint early Renaissance in the Algarve and the only example of the period in the Geographical coordinates Fado evenings, sports holidays, “full Castro Marim > Foz de Odeleite 19 km village” with excellent views over Odeleite.