Page 184 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

lake nestles between hills
LUÍS VAZ DE CAMÕES covered in pine and eucalyp­
(1524–80) tus forests. Between the
The author of Portugal’s trees lie small, isolated vil­
celebrated epic poem, Os lages. The valley is a secluded
Lusìadas, had a passion­ area popular for boat ing,
ate nature. Banished fishing and watersports and
from court, he enlisted in it is possible to hire equip­
ment from centres along the
1547 and set sail for North
EXPERIENCE Estremadura and Ribatejo to serve his country in do Zêzere, in Castanheira on
lake shore. Canoes, windsurf
Africa, where he lost an
boards and water­skis can be
eye. Imprisoned after
found at the Centro Naútico
another brawl, he agreed
the western side of the lake,
India, but his was the
and the Centro Naútico de
only ship from the fleet
to survive the stormy
Castelo do Bode (www.mbp.
pai.pt). Yachting facilities are
seas. This experience
usually available from the
gave his subsequent
poem, published in 1572,
lakeside hotels, such as the
its vibrant power.
peaceful Estalagem Lago Azul
(www.estalagemlagoazul.com).
from the hotel, stop­ping at
17 "-
the sandy beaches and small
Barragem do
Pegadas dos
islands. There are some great
Castelo de Bode
Dinossáurios 18 A cruise can also be taken
spots for swimming, including
the so­called river beaches of
! D4 ⌂ Estrada de Fátima, ! E4 @ To dam 4 From
Bairro # Jun–Sep: 10am– Castanheira # By appt Alverangel, Montes and
Castenheira, locally known
6pm Tue–Fri, 10am–8pm (249 362 239) n Avenida
Sat & Sun; Oct–Mar: Dr Cândido Madureira, as the Lago Azul because
10am–12:30pm, 2–6pm Tomar; 249 329 823 of its deep blue colour.
Tue–Sun ∑ pegadasde Perhaps there once was a
dinossaurios.org
“Castle of the Billygoat”, but 19
In a former quarry in the today the name refers to a
heart of the Parque Natural large dam (barragem) that Abrantes
das Serras de Aire, you will blocks the flow of the Zêzere ! E4 £ @ n Esplanada 1°
find these superbly preserved river 10 km (6 miles) up stream de Maio; 241 330 100
dinosaur footprints. Discovered from its confluence with
in 1994, they belong to sauro­ the Tagus. Construction Grandly situated above
pods that, at 30 m (98 ft) in of the dam began in 1946 to the Tagus river, the town of
length, were some of the serve the first of Portugal’s Abrantes was once of strategic
largest land animals to hydroelectric power stations. importance. It had a vital
have ever lived. Above it, a long, sprawl ing role in the Reconquista, and
In the late Triassic Period, during the Peninsular War
the area was a shallow lagoon. both the French General Junot
As the dinosaurs made their and the Duke of Wellington
way through the sediments, made it a base. The defensive
they left prints, which then walls of the early­13th­century
solidified into limestone. ruined fortress that overlooks
There are hundreds of tracks the town and the surrounding
to follow, including one set of flatlands is a reminder of its
prints that is 147 m (482 ft) in important status.
length – by studying the tracks The 15th­century church
experts can estimate the size of Santa Maria do Castelo,
of the animals. You can also within the castle walls, is now
take the walkway around the the small Museu Dom Lopo
open­air museum and watch de Almeida. Besides an
an informative film at the extensive collection of local
ticket office, which explains archaeological finds, sculpture,
more about these herbivorous Castelo de Bode, the vestments, ethno graphy and
giants that once lived here dam that controls the sacred art, it houses the
some 200 million years ago. flow of the Zêzere river tombs of the Almeida family,
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