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Arte Urbana Ponte de Sor
June 28, 2021
PONTE DE SOR: THE CITY DISPLAYS THE LARGEST PANEL IN THE WORLD MADE WITH 400 THOUSAND WINE CORKS. Ponte de Sor is limited to the northeast by the municipality of Gavião and Crato, to the east by Alter do Chão, to the southeast by Avis, to the south by Mora, to the southwest by Coruche and to the northwest by Chamusca and Abrantes. It has a central position in Portugal, being situated halfway between north and south borders. The city is close to other important cities of Alentejo, such as Évora and Portalegre, and just one hour drive from the capital, Lisbon. Badajoz, in Spain, is another big city in its vicinity. The river Sor gave Ponte de Sor its name and also its charm. Nowadays, the river has been embellished by the pleasant Riverbank Area. Used for leisure, wellness, culture and sports, it’s a privileged place to picnic.  Those who love walking can initiate here a pedestrian tour that will take them to the Tramaga watermills from the 18th century, through the beautiful landscape of the cork oak montado that dominates the territory and sets the calm pace of the city life. In homage to the cork oak trees, the Centro de Artes e Cultura (Arts and Culture Centre) exhibits the largest panel in the world made with 400 000 wine corks.   The cork oak montado and the Albufeira de Montargil (Montargil Reservoir), where many go to enjoy some rest or to practice water sports, are the territory’s brand image. With its unique beautiful water mirror and fine sand banks that form small and idyllic beaches, this place is perfect to enjoy nature in its liquid form. Here you can find a sanctuary for contemplating nature, or the ideal place for practicing water sports, such as wakeboard, jet-ski and motorboat or canoe rides, that allow you to visit unique spots where you just want to spread your towel, sit down and quietly savor a Genial Picnic. BOOK PICNIC
Ponte de Sor Riverbank area
June 27, 2021
PONTE DE SOR: LEISURE AND WELLNESS AT RIVERBANK AREA. The Riverbank Area is a reference in the city for leisure and wellness. Ribeira de Sor (the river) is the background for all the surrounding greenery that makes this place ideal to sit down and enjoy a picnic. You can stroll around, heading for the pedestrian bridge, designed by Leonel Moura. If you prefer, ride a bike or do some cardio in the open-air equipment spread around the area, or play tennis. Canoeing and diving in the pool are also good options. The little ones can stimulate their imagination and motor skills in the children’s playground and its many different types of equipment to please all ages. Fishing enthusiasts may use the fishing track, and those who love walking may put their boots on. Here, in the Riverbank Area, starts a pedestrian trail that allows you to see the Tramaga watermills from the 18th century, and passes through the cork oak area, the montado. The day just flies by when you are in the Riverbank Area, even the longest summer ones. But don’t go away when the sun starts to set. Stay for the usual shows in the local Amphitheatre and enjoy different kinds of music.  And don’t forget to take your Ponte de Sor Genial Picnic along. BOOK PICNIC
Piquenique Total de Ponte de Sor na Albufeira de Montargil
June 26, 2021
MONTARGIL: RELAX OR WATER SPORTS IN MONTARGIL RESERVOIR. In Alto Alentejo, municipality of Ponte de Sor, the blue patch of Montargil reservoir immediately transports us to a time to relax and pump up our energy. Exactly in the centre of Portugal, equidistant from the Spanish border and our Atlantic coast, Montargil dam is a must stop for those travelling on Estrada Nacional 2 (EN2), that crosses Portugal from north to south, from Chaves to Faro. Mirroring the astounding landscape of the montado, the Montargil Reservoir has prime conditions for contemplating the surrounding nature, for hiking, for fishing and for nautical sports, such as sailing, wakeboard, canoe, jet ski or water-ski.  The less prone to sports may embark on a boat ride across the reservoir (go to the Clube Náutico de Montargil, and discover the strong affinity that the reservoir has with all water sports).  During the boat ride you will spot several nooks in the reservoir banks worth further exploration and laying your picnic towel under a tree. It is mandatory to take a Ponte de Sor Genial Picnic along, since hunger is the enemy of a quiet mood, and prevents you from fully enjoying the beauty of those places or listening to the sound of birds. Montargil is very famous in the birdwatcher’s world. BOOK PICNIC
Ribeira de Seda Trail
June 25, 2021
PONTE DE SOR: PEDESTRIAN TRAIL ALENTEJO FEEL NATURE Ribeira de Sor is a place of watermills and millers since the 13th century. The Royal Charter of our king Afonso III, dated 13th July 1256, refers to watermills belonging to chancellor Estêvão Anes: “molendinos quos habetis in Ripa de Soor” (mills he has in Ribeira de Sor). Parochial registers from 1758 mention more than ten watermills in this region.  The Ribeira de Sor trail, part of the pedestrian trails Alentejo Feel Nature – PR1 PSR, takes you to three of those, situated between Ponte de Sor e Tramaga, all dated from the beginning of the 9th century: Moinho da Sobreira (Sobreira Watermills); Moinho da Pontinha (Pontinha Watermill), and the more imponent of the three, Moinho Novo (New Watermill). This last one allows you to cross to the other bank, an area ideal for rod fishing. Enjoy this trail, but don’t forget your picnic, to recharge your batteries, as the whole trail, though an easy one, will take more than 4 hours. Leaving the Ponte de Sor Riverbank Area, you should head for the pedestrian bridge that allows you to cross the stream to the left bank.  From there, climb to ribeira de Vale do Bispo (Vale do Bispo creek), walk through the montado, with its beautiful cork oaks, and arrive at aldeia de Ervideira (Ervideira hamlet). Walk across the village and head again to the banks of Ribeira de Sor. You will then be able to spot the famous Tramaga Watermills, that once did the beautiful job of turning grains into flour for bread. Walk the trail calmly, to enjoy all the nature’s sounds, coming from the water or from the birds that accompany you along: the white stork, the black-winged kite, the black kite, the booted eagle and the European bee-eater. Pick your favourite nook to spread the towel and eat your picnic. Properly recharged, follow the trail, returning to the bridge over Ribeira de Sor and crossing to the other bank to walk down to the beautiful Parque da Marginal (Riverbank Park). Continue by the riverside and appreciate all the leisure equipment you find in your way. The trail ends in the same place it started. Such a walk without a Ponte de Sor Genial Picnic will get you very hungry, so don’t forget to book yours. BOOK PICNIC
Ponte de Sor watermills tourdos moinhos
June 24, 2021
PONTE DE SOR: WATERMILLS TOUR FOLLOWING ITS DAMS   Since the Middle Ages that watermills have defined the landscape of the small rivers in the Ponte de Sor area, mainly the creeks from Sor and Longomel. Essential for the waters to gain the power that made the wheels spin, the area around the mill dam is rich in biodiversity, namely certain bird and fish species, and occasionally otters. This tour allies the historic, artistic and natural heritages. At the same time, you get to understand how cereals were transformed in bread up to the early 20th century and you can appreciate the beauty of the surrounding nature. And if the weather is hot, just dive in one of the dams. The scenery is more than perfect for a memorable Ponte de Sor Genial Picnic. BOOK PICNIC
Birdwatching
June 23, 2021
MONTARGIL: BIRDWATCHING IN MONTARGIL RESERVOIR. Montargil Reservoir has a unique beauty, being also the ideal scenery for all activities related to nature, namely birdwatching. Its calm surroundings and special vegetation harbour beautiful bird species, such as swallows, starlings and nightingales. Flying high, eagles and kites can also be spotted. In the north end, expect to see mallards and herons. Choose a quiet place and try to identify each species. But don’t forget your Ponte de Sor Genial Picnic. BOOK PICNIC
trail discover montargil
June 22, 2021
MONTARGIL: TRANSALENTEJO TRAIL. This trail PSR PR2 reunites heritage and nature, delighting your eyes with the Montargil dam landscape.  The trail starts in the viewpoint near the village Centro Cultural. And carries on between the forests of eucalyptus, cork oaks and holm oaks till the geodesic marker, from where you get a wide and breathtaking view, with the village of Montargil and the water mirror of the dam as the background. Don’t forget to take with you a Ponte de Sor Genial Picnic and enjoy it wherever the lanscape inspires you. BOOK PICNIC
Nacional Road N2
June 20, 2021
PONTE DE SOR AND MONTARGIL: KM 435 AND KM 448. From Trás-os-Montes to Algarve, EN2 (National Road 2) winds through all Portuguese landscapes along its 738,5 Km. EN2 is considered, among roads with the same characteristics, the longest in Portugal and in Europe and the third longest in the whole world, after Route 66, in the United States, and Ruta 40, in Argentina. From Chaves to Faro, cruising EN2 is a sightseeing journey that allows you to discover a huge variety of landscapes, cultures and gastronomies of our country. Stops at Km 435, in Ponte de Sor, or at Km 448, in Montargil Dam, are mandatory to recharge energy with a Ponte Sor Genial Picnic. Pickup at Quiosque da Relva Restaurant in Riverbank Area of Ponte de Sor. BOOK PICNIC
Geocaching in Ponte de Sor Riverbank
June 19, 2021
PONTE DE SOR: GEOCACHING AT RIVERBANK AREA. For the exploring minded, we suggest searching for a geocache in the Ponte de Sor Riverbank Area. To find the cache you just have to do some simple maths and register in geocaching.pt to obtain the coordinates and play. When you find the cache, take with you one of the souvenirs kept in the box, but don’t forget to leave another, that you should bring along.  Before or after this experience, enjoy a delicious Ponte de Sor Genial Picnic. BOOK PICNIC
Alter do Chão Picnic Total atna Ponte Romana de Vila Formosa
June 17, 2021
ALTER DO CHÃO: TRADITIONAL VILLAGE FAMOUS BY THE COUDELARIA ALTER REAL (STUD FARM). Alter do Chão is limited to the north by Crato, to the southeat by Monforte, to the south by Fronteira, to the southwest by Avis and to the west by Ponte de Sor. Alter do Chão presents a natural diversity that makes this municipality very interesting from environmental assets and nature conservation points of view. The nature and landscape diversity, associated with the cultural heritage and environmental quality, becomes an excellent drive for its visit. Birdwatchers find in Alter do Chão the perfect place for spotting a series of birds, such as the great bustard, the calandra lark, the great crested grebe, the great cormorant, the mallard, the northern shoveler, and a handful of birds of prey, namely the milvus, the common buzzard and the booted eagle. An endless list of birds you may spot especially in winter and spring. It´s also the perfect place to walk or follow some of the Alentejo Feel Nature trails, along the Ribeira de Seda and amount the montado, where you can easily spot a horse Puro Lusitano, a portuguese breed preserved by Coudelaria de Alter (stud farm). As for the flora, it is important to mention the richness and importance of the endogenous vegetation of the Alentejo plain, such as the cork oak, the holm oak and the olive tree. The asparagus, the Alter saffron, the purslane, the pennyroyal, the water spearmint and the golden thistle are abundant in the fields e wisely used in the local cuisine. Some of them are present in the menu of the Alter do Chão Genial Picnic. BOOK PICNIC
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