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| Aljezur | ||
| District | Faro district | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 5.884 (2011) | |
| height | 33 m | |
| Tourist info | 351-282 998 229 www.cm-aljezur.pt | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Aljezur is a small district town in the extreme northwest of the Algarve in the national park Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e da Costa Vicentina not far from the coast.
background
Aljezur is on the edge of the national park Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e da Costa Vicentina on the border of the Algarve to the Alentejo. The fertile river valley of the Ribeira de Aljezur divides the place into the old town below the castle hill and the newer district on the east bank. From the castle, built by the Moors in the 10th century, only the outer walls, a tower and the cistern are preserved. From there you have a wonderful view of the place and the surrounding area. Several smaller museums are hidden in the steep streets of the picturesque old town.
The castle on the hills in a loop of the Ribeira de Aljezur was built by the Moors in the 10th century and further strengthened in the centuries that followed. After the conquest in 1249 under Dom Paio Peres Correia, the castle fell to the Order of Santiago. In 1280 Aljezur received city rights from Dom Dinis. In the 15th century the castle, which no longer had any military significance, was abandoned
The town with its port, which emerged below the castle, was an important trading point, as the river was navigable until the 16th century and the mouth on the rugged Atlantic coast was the only access to the sea in the vicinity.
After the destruction by the 1755 m earthquake, a new settlement was built around the Igreja Nova church on the initiative of the Bishop of Faro, Francisco Gomes de Avelar, on the east bank of the river. There is still the economic center of the town with the simple market hall and the tourist office.
getting there
By plane
The nearest airport is in Faro (Distance approx. 108 km). From the airport Lisbon it is approx. 242 km.
By train
There is no train connection to Aljezur. The Linha do Algarve, the single-track railway line that crosses the Algarve in a west-east direction, ends in Lagos.
By bus
Aljezur is on the "Carreira Interurbana" bus route EVA Transportes from the cities of the Algarve and from Lisbon to reach out.
In the street
Aljezur can be reached from the end of the A22 motorway near Lagos on the EN120 national road in a northerly direction (approx. 22 km).
By boat
Aljezur is by the river Ribeira de Aljezur, but it is not navigable.
mobility
Aljezur can be explored on foot. The nearest beaches on the west coast are about 7-10 km by car.
Tourist Attractions
- 1 Castelo de Aljezur.
The ruins of a castle from the time of the Moors are located on a hill above the old town.
.jpg/350px-Castelo_de_Aljezur_(2).jpg)
- 2 Moinho de Arregata (Polo Museológico do Moinho da Arregata).Reconstruction of an old windmill with a museum in the village of Rogil, north of Aljezur.
activities
- beaches. The beaches on this part of the Algarve coast, the Costa Vicentina, are largely untouched by tourism even in the high season due to the remoteness of the whole area. When the westerly winds get stormier in autumn, winter and the spring months, the swell attracts surfers from all over the world.
- 1 Praia da Amoreira
- 2 Praia da Fateixa
- hike. The high plateau of the nature park offers ideal hiking opportunities all year round. The diverse flora of the heathland is particularly beautiful in spring, which in the Algarve can begin as early as February. And from numerous vantage points above the steep cliffs you have a great view of the spectacular rugged cliffs and sandy bays of the west coast.
- Bird watching. The southern part of the nature park between Vila do Bispo and Sagres is an ideal area for observing the various bird species that live here or that stop on their way to Africa. October is the best time to discover more about the life and habits of these birds. There are plenty of places to see these animals on the cliffs and rock faces in the Vila do Bispo district. The Bird Watchers Festival gives visitors the opportunity to take part in specialist-organized hikes.
shop
The small market hall is located on the right bank of the river and can be reached via a bridge from the old town. Most of the shops are also in the new town on the eastern bank of the Ribeira de Aljezur.
nightlife
Does not take place.
accommodation
The nearest youth hostel, Pousada de Juventude, is in Arrifana.
health
There are pharmacies in Aljezur and in the neighboring communities of Rogil and Odeceixe.
The nearest public hospital (Hospital do Barlavento Algarvio) located in Portimão.
Practical advice
trips
- 3 Montes dos Amantes. Menhirs as evidence of prehistoric human settlement can be found in the vicinity of Raposeira and Vila do Bispo. A hiking trail (Roteiro Megalitico) leads through the menhir field Montes dos Amantes between Vila do Bispo and Sagres.
- Sagres and the Cabo de Sao Vicente, the most south-westerly corner of mainland Europe
literature
Web links
- http://www.cm-aljezur.pt/ - Aljezur official website
