From One Castle to Another on the Lake

There are two mooring sites: one providing access to the village, and the other near the Alqueva Dam. This ancient village, dating back to the 13th century, was built around the chapel dedicated to Saint Lourenço, a Christian martyr deeply venerated in Alentejo. Today, Alqueva is a peaceful village offering all essential services: restaurants, cafés, a grocery store, a bakery, and a pastry shop. Just beyond the village, you can moor your license-free boat near the Alqueva Dam. There, an exhibition space invites you to learn about the dam’s construction,an idea conceived as early as the 1950s. Discover how the valley was flooded by the Guadiana River, and how entire bat colonies (a protected species) had to be relocated to another cave after their natural habitat was submerged. A fascinating and unusual visit, well worth the stop.

A small lakeside village with just a few hundred residents. Centered around its parish church, it offers restaurants, cafés, a grocery store, post office, and bank.

A unique village entirely rebuilt, stone by stone, after its original site was submerged by the Great Lake reservoir. The church, cemetery, even residents’ trees were relocated identically. Streets were widened to allow two-way traffic,an impressive example of preserving collective heritage, narrated at the Luz museum.

The name Mourão echoes its Moorish past. This fortified medieval town features 13th-century ramparts, a castle, churches, and chapels. Visitors enjoy local shops, restaurants, a swimming pool, tourist office, and banks.

Undoubtedly the most beautiful site around the Alqueva Reservoir. This small fortified town sits on a rocky spur with great views over the lake. Moor at the foot of the hill, then walk 15–20 minutes uphill to the fortified village. Four entrance gates lead you into narrow, lime-painted streets lined with artisan shops and restaurants open year-round. Don’t miss the old town hall, the Church of Our Lady of Lagoa, the castle, and the local bullring (plaza de Toros).

A fortified town with medieval charm Your Portuguese cruise route takes you to Juromenha, with roots in Roman times and medieval Islamic influence. Remains of fortifications and polygonal bastions from the Restoration Wars (built by Vauban’s style) still stand. Beyond its military history, Juromenha features a lively “Quai de Juromenha” home to boating activities.