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April 9, 2021
Cascais has a privileged position, benefiting both from the open sea Atlantic beaches and from the healthy and fresh air from the neighbouring Serra de Sintra. Its vicinity to Lisbon, gave Cascais the role of maritime guardian of the capital. During the Spanish occupation in parts of the 16th and 17th centuries, Cascais was given several defence fortifications by king Filipe of Spain. After we regained our independence, this work continued, namely with the building of the Cidadela, still an important place in the centre of the village. In 1755, Cascais was almost completely destroyed by the giant earthquake. In 1834, it took a heavy blow with the extinction of the religious orders and, some years after, with the displacement of the army of the Citadel, Regimento de Infantaria 19. From 1859, with the construction of the roads connecting Cascais to Oeiras and to Sintra, the village starts to grow. But the decisive turning point will be the year 1870, when our king D. Luís elected Cascais as its beach resort. From then on, the royal family arrived in the September and stayed till November, in the Cidadela. With the king, came the nobility and the rich bourgeoise. Besides bathing in the sea, the royal family loved to hunt, namely in the area of Guincho.   In 1889 was launched the first stretch to Pedrouços from the railway Cascais-Lisbon. In 1940, with the construction of Estrada Marginal (the scenic view road to Lisbon) and of the Casino, Estoril and Cascais became luxury tourist destinations. Portuguese neutrality during WW2 brought thousands of refugees and exiles looking for a safe place. Between the more illustrious are the count D. Juan de Battenberg and Bourbon (father of the Spanish king Juan Carlos), king Humberto II from Italy, Carol II from Romania, archdukes from Austria and Hungary and the Danish royal family. Estoril and Cascais became a rendezvous place for spies from both sides mingling in luxury hotels, like the Estoril Palácio. Still preserving its roots as a fishing harbour, Cascais is today a very coveted tourist destination and a very pleasant place to live in. And the ideal place to enjoy your Cascais Genial Picnic, filled with local products and treats. Stroll the narrow streets of the old village of Cascais, up and down. You will never get lost; the place is small and charming. Enter the old stores, such as the haberdashery Marilene or the Drogaria Costa (a mix of hardware and general store).  Visit the churches (Igreja Paroquial de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes e Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Misericórida, The chapel or Ermida de S. Sebastião, from the 16th century). Take time to enter the museums: Casa das Histórias Paula Rego (with a fine collection of paintings by this world famous Portuguese painter), Museu do Mar Rei D. Carlos I (where you will find the history of all traditions connected with the sea), the Museu do Palácio da Cidadela (Fortress Nossa Senhora da Luz de Cascais where our kings spent part of the summer), Museu Conde de Castro Guimarães). And finally stop at the beach dos Pescadores or in the Parque Marechal Carmona and enjoy your Cascais Genial Picnic. If you feel like enjoying the open air and the sea, take your Cascais Genial Picnic to the beach: Along the road to Guincho you have several, all beautiful and wild, beaches. The road takes you to the final Praia do Guincho, but you can go further to Praia da Adraga BOOK PICNIC
April 8, 2021
PARQUE NATURAL DE SINTRA CASCAIS. There are four Pedestrian Trails you can do in Cascais, namely in the Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais (Sintra -Cascais Nature Park). As these trails have a low to medium difficulty, they are adequate to almost everybody. Rota PR1 CSA )– Rota das Quintas (Farms Trail) allows you to discover  small and very rural hamlets  (Alcorvim, Janes e Zambujeiro), to enjoy the freshness of the tree cover of Ribeira das Vinhas and to walk through Quinta do Pisão and its silvopastoral activities. The trail PR2 CSC – Rota do Cabo Raso (Cabo Raso trail) takes you through the rural landscape around the village of Areia, the ruins of Casais Velhos, the Cresmina dune, the beautiful costal of the Guincho road, the lighthouse of Cabo Raso and the fort of S. Brás de Sanxete. PR3 CSC – Rota das Aldeias (Trail of the Villages) is ideal to enjoy the Southern slopes of serra de Sintra, dazzling you with breath-taking views from the Capela de Nossa Sr.ª da Peninha (a chapel). In this trail, you will also get to know Malveira da Serra, Biscaia and Figueira do Guincho, all three villages nested in the serra de Sintra surroundings. Through the Rota do Litoral do Guincho – PR4 CSC (Guincho Coastal Trail) you will enjoy the view from the coastal cliffs between the beaches of Abano and Grota, and the Fort of Guincho, as well as get to know the villages of Charneca and Malveira da Serra and the valley of Ribeira da Foz do Guincho (a creek). When you decide to follow these trails, don’t Forget to reserve your Cascais Genial Picnic to take with you in our special backpack. BOOK PICNIC
April 6, 2021
Serra de Sintra (Sintra Mountain Range) and its seashore is an area of great ecological and cultural interest due to its geomorphological and landscape characteristics. Most of the natural heritage of Cascais is located on the western side of the municipality, inside this natural park, created in 1994 and with an area over 36 000 acres. The park has a great variety of wildlife, namely 200 species of vertebrates. BOOK PICNIC
April 5, 2021
CASCAIS / GUINCHO. Sanderling, common ringed plover and European stonechat are among the birds you may watch in the Guincho-Cresmina dunes. Visitors follow a trail through the dunar system walking with the help of information panels spread across three wooden walkways that connect Areia road to Praia do Guincho, in a total of 2,2 kilometers. Take a pair of binoculars with you, for a more accurate observation. The sea breeze and the sand glow are your companions in these trails, as well as the local flora, such as the Armeria welwitschii or the Sabina turbinata, and fauna, namely insects and reptiles that form a singular ecosystem whose survival depends on the balance of the Guincho dunes. The area of the dunes grows 100 meters each year. BOOK PICNIC
April 4, 2021
CASCAIS. Rent a bike in one of the BiCas (Bicicletas de Cascais) station, located near the Cascais Railway Station, the Casa da Guia or the Posto de Informação de Turismo da Natureza, right in front of Casa das Histórias Paula Rego (the Museum), and ride along the bicycle lane to the Cresmina Dunes, in Guincho. There are several types of bikes, including one with a children trailer. You may leave from the Eco-cabana, the Nature Tourism Office of Cascais, an eco-friendly house that won a Prize (Ideias Verdes Água de Luso – Expresso), and ride to the Santa Marta cove. Cross the beautiful stone bridge, form where you will spot Casa de Santa Maria, the Santa Marta Lighthouse and the Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum. Hop on your bike and ride to Boca do Inferno, to admire the breath-taking sea rolling against the grottoes. From there, proceed in the bike lane to Guincho, riding for 9 km, always in the company of the sea, stopping whenever if feel like admiring the landscape. Enjoy the ride, but take a break to eat your Genial Picnic by the sea. BOOK PICNIC
April 3, 2021
PAREDE. The story of this park dates back to the early 20th century when Domingos José de Morais, a wealthy industrial, was the owner of the land, and had his home here. Nowadays this park, also known as the “parque dos patinhos” (“Duckling Park”), is equipped with a children’s playground, a lake with domestic birds and a vast lawn. It also has a picnic area under the pine trees, ideal to enjoy your Cascais Genial Picnic. With an extensive rose garden, perennials herbaceous and large trees, it is a unique place to relax and enjoy nature. BOOK PICNIC
April 3, 2021
MURCHES. In order to add value to the border area of Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais, the Parque Urbano das Penhas do Marmeleiro, in Murches, visually encompasses Serra de Sintra, Ribeira das Vinhas (a river) and Penhas do Marmeleiro (a rock formation). The park has a pedestrian wooden walkway that runs across the entire terrain, minimising the impact of natural slopes and making the access to certain areas easier. The park has pedestrian and bike trails and a playground. The view is inspiring, so you will want to lie down and enjoy you Cascais Genial Picnic. BOOK PICNIC
April 3, 2021
CASCAIS. Your challenge is to find the pirate hidden treasure. It all begins in Conceição beach, and continues in the old town of Cascais, with a unique view over the bay, passing by the Marina de Cascais and Marechal Carmona Park. The participants rely on their GPS, their imagination, creativity and reasoning and, in order to be successful they must do some teamwork. The challenge is organized by Muitaventura (Tel. 967021248) and could transformed in a Peddy Paper and custom made. It has a three-hour duration and requires a minimum of four participants (prices start at €15). BOOK PICNIC
April 3, 2021
Built around 1940, the park encompasses the areas of the gardens of Palácio Condes Castro Guimarães and the property of the Viscount of Gandarinha. Since the first half of the 16th century, the space had already been used as a recreational, leisure and agricultural estate. In the 19th century, it was purchased by the Viscount of Gandarinha, who built a romantic park here. The garden of Palácio Condes Castro Guimarães (Counts of Castro Guimarães Palace) is also characterised by a touch of romanticism and, in 1944, after the Gandarinha land was acquired, the two areas were united and open to the public. The park has vast lawns, herbaceous flowerbeds and bushes, some wood with large trees and pathways. Every Saturday the park hosts a Bio vegetable and fruit market. The Park also includes a section of the Ribeira dos Mochos, lakes, a field for traditional games and a picnic area where you can enjoy your Cascais Genial Picnic in the shadow. BOOK PICNIC
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