In winter, the Mira-Minde polje can collect water and form a large lake. At that time, it is home to species including mallards, moorhens and coots. The polje is the largest in the region, measuring up to 4,000 metres long and no more than 1,800 metres wide. This contrast between the expansive karst landscape and seasonal water offers a first impression of the diversity of nature around Porto de Mós.
Discover Limestone Landscapes and Caves
The Fórnea is a distinct, amphitheatre-shaped depression in a limestone plateau. After heavier rainfall, waterfalls emerge from Cova da Velha. In the parish of Arrimal, rainwater and water from shallow depressions collect in three lagoons. Both landforms reveal different ways in which water appears in the limestone region: as a waterfall after heavier rainfall, and in the depressions at Arrimal.
The Miradouro Jurássico also brings landscape and interpretations of geological history together. It is located in the Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros at an altitude of around 500 metres, with views over the northern and western parts of this mountain range. The 15 limestone blocks at the viewpoint represent the main periods of the Jurassic. Another view of the karst can be found in the Grutas de Alvados, whose galleries are richly varied and contain natural lakes.
The Grutas de Mira de Aire are Portugal’s largest caves open to visitors. Wine tastings are held in a gallery 80 metres underground. If you are interested in the underground landscape, you will find here not only a cave, but also a special place to enjoy a wine tasting. Together with the galleries and lakes of Alvados, this illustrates the variety of caves in the area.
On Foot, by Bike or Along the Pilgrim Route
The municipality of Porto de Mós has a network of eleven signposted and georeferenced main routes for short walks, as well as several variations. The walking platform offers GPX downloads and a way to report incidents on the trails. For your own planning, you can therefore take account of both the route information and the digital features available. Conditions on individual trails may vary.
The Bezerra Ecopista, the former Caminho de Ferro da Bezerra, offers a different perspective and can be used on foot or by bicycle. Parts of the route pass between stone walls cut into the rock for the railway; the Ecopista also offers views of the Serra de Candeeiros. For mountain biking, the Centro Cyclin’ Portugal de Porto de Mós supports 15 routes of varying lengths and difficulty, with a total length of approximately 575 kilometres. The Caminho da Nazaré passes through Porto de Mós, connecting the Marian shrines of Fátima and Nossa Senhora da Nazaré. When planning a specific walk or pilgrimage stage, it is worth checking the conditions on the relevant route.
Culture Among Castles, Churches and Crafts
Castelo de Porto de Mós was designated a National Monument in 1910. A smartphone web app is available for the self-guided visit route, “Histórias e Lendas de um Castelo Singular.” It is available in Portuguese, English and French, as well as in Portuguese Sign Language and with Portuguese audio description. This makes a visit to the castle an opportunity to engage with its history through content offered in multiple languages and formats.
At Central das Artes, a former thermal power station has been converted into a venue with several different exhibition areas. Another chapter of local history awaits at the Museu Industrial e Artesanal do Têxtil: housed in the former Dom Fuas carpet factory, built in 1924, it commemorates the generations who made Mira de Aire and Minde important centres of Portugal’s textile industry in the 20th century.
The village of Juncal had a chapel dedicated to Saint Michael at least as far back as the 14th century; it later became the Igreja de São Miguel do Juncal. During the church’s renovation in the 18th century, tile panels made at the Fábrica do Juncal were installed. The Estrada Romana de Alqueidão da Serra, meanwhile, is well preserved over a 400-metre stretch. And during Holy Week, the Via Sacra is the highlight of the celebrations in Porto de Mós, where it has been observed for more than ten years. These places and traditions offer different ways to explore the region’s history, from architecture and crafts to living customs.
For travel by road, Porto de Mós is accessible via the IC9, with the Alcobaça exit; the A1, with the Leiria or Torres Novas exits; and the A8, with the Leiria or Pataias exits. Discover more destinations: Porto De Mós, Mendiga, Mira De Aire, Juncal, Pedreiras, Arrimal, Alqueidão da Serra and Nazaré.
For the main travel overview: Leiria.
