Aldeia do Mato river beach
The river beach of Aldeia do Mato, which is located in the union of parishes of Aldeia do Mato and Souto, is located in the municipality of Abrantes, in the district of Santarém. It is a river pool in Albufeira de Castelo de Bode. One of the main tourist attractions in the region, it has an incredible surrounding natural beauty and also has excellent conditions for recreational and leisure activities. It is ideal for practicing water sports such as canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. It has a dock, changing rooms, a bar and equipment rental for nautical activities. Featuring floating pools, it is possible to enjoy the crystal clear waters of the river Zêzere. The green of the stone pines with the blue of the river provides a pleasant experience for the eyes and soul.
The river beach has a blue flag in 2021 for the 11th consecutive year and is a public space, open from May 1 to October 31, every day from 2:30 pm to 8 pm. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays it is open from 10 am to 8 pm.
In addition to having a floating river pool supervised by a lifeguard, the pool also has a water sports area, a dock, free parking, toilets, canoe rental and now also a picnic area.
Recognized by Quercus with the blue flag award and Praia Para Todos, this bathing area offers all the conditions for a mini-vacation. You will be able to rest, perform water activities such as canoeing and diving, hiking, and observation of fauna and flora. The bar/cafeteria and changing rooms facilitate and make the experience more comfortable.
There is also the possibility of doing mountain biking, archery, abseiling, slide, climbing or quad bike tours.
Aldeia do Mato dates from before the 13th century, when it would have been named Aldeia da Mata, due to the large amount of firewood. This was the main source of income, which came from the pine and olive trees. The construction of the Castelo de Bode Dam in 1951 led to the extinction of olive fields. The feast day in Aldeia do Mato is the last weekend in July and the patron saint is Santa Maria Madalena.
There are some typical dishes of the region that you will not want to miss: cabbage migas with roasted cod, shad açorda and charcoal migas with spare ribs.