15 best places to see in Alqueva Lake (Extremadura and Portugal)

Did you know Estremadura Is it the community with the most inland coast? Indeed, a third of Spain's dammed water is in this region.

And the best example is Alqueva Lake, the largest artificial lake in Western Europe with more than 1.200 km of shore, which in some sections acts as a natural border between Spain y Portugal.

El Alqueva Lake takes its name from the town where the reservoir is built on the Guadiana river, in the Lower Alentejo.

The dam inside Portugal, to the tail almost in Badajozalready in Estremadura, are more than 80 km away with a maximum depth of 150 meters.

On the one hand, the lake was built for human consumption, tourist uses and to generate electricity, but also to increase irrigation in a large part of the Alentejo, which is a very fertile cultivation area.

In this Mediterranean natural environment full of great holm oak meadows where they feed on acorns Iberian pigs, several artificial beaches with blue flag and accessibility have been created on the Portuguese side.

It is an area that is in full development, but where they try to keep the natural landscape intact.

Within Europe, Monfragüe in Extremadura It is one of the two meccas of the ornithology, Along the Doñana national park.

Thanks to the proximity of these two nature reserves, it is very common to see a large number of birds in their migratory processes throughout the Alqueva area.

What to see for tourism in Alqueva Lake and surroundings

The entire environment of Alqueva Lake It has been a border area for years, so it is very common to find castles and fortresses defensive, which makes the area have a multitude of tourist attractions.

Olivenza, beautiful town in Badajoz

Olivenza It is a city of 12.000 inhabitants, including several towns and villages that depend on it.

It is the most important and most populated population center in the entire area of ​​the Alqueva reservoir.

Of Templar origin, Olivenza It is the last region that became part of the Spanish administration and a very peculiar city given that the oliventinos They can have dual nationality, Spanish and Portuguese.

It could be said that it is a region where the transnationality between both countries can be felt very intensely, with very clear examples such as the street indications, which are written in both languages, Spanish and Portuguese.

Olivenza It is one of the great tourist attractions that the region has with its walls, its watchtower, white houses or their Manueline tiles so characteristic of Portuguese culture that they are also present here.

It is the only Spanish area where you can find this type of tiles, so characteristic of Portuguese culture, and which we all associate with cities like Porto y Lisbon.

Villarreal in Badajoz

Villarreal It is a village of Olivenza, historically of fishermen, which has always been closely linked to the Guadiana river.

In fact, in the past it did not belong to Olivenza but to the neighboring town of Juromenha which is located just on the other side of the river, in Portugal.

To note that in the marina o Villarreal pier There is also a highly recommended restaurant, especially for dinner and watching the sunset on the banks of the Alqueva Lake with views of the castle and the aforementioned Portuguese town of Juromenha.

It is very interesting because on one side of the lake you are in Spain and on the other you are Portugal.

There you can do nautical activitiesAs an Boat tour o kayak, in an environment with enormous landscape value.

Miraflores Castle in Alconchel

The castle of the Extremaduran town of alconchel is in the Miraflores hill who presides over the town.

This fortress was built in several phases, with three concentric defensive rings that adapt to the inclination of the terrain.

Its origin is from the Arab period, in the 9th century, from an initial one tower of tribute wood.

In the 1230th century it became made of stone, becoming a watchtower from which, in XNUMX, a medieval Christian wall was built by the Templars.

To finish the fortification, in the 17th century the Plaza de Armas.

Historically, the population used to take refuge here when they were besieged by enemy armies, especially by Lusitania or by the Almohads, but in the War of independence They ended up giving up because they ran out of supplies.

Since then the castle was abandoned, and in the 20th century the watchtower was rebuilt for tourist use based on the original foundations and walls.

The charm of this castle is that it is built on the rock, hence it is a so-called rock castle.

Like many of these medieval fortifications, the Miraflores castle He also has his ghost. which has its origin in the legend of the Zaragutia Blackberry.

It is supposed to be the ghost of a Christian woman forced to marry a sultan in 1174, who died in the galleries of the castle and legend says that she wanders around these walls at dusk.

Monsaraz, beautiful town in Portugal

If there is a town that well justifies a getaway to the region of Alqueva Lake, that is, without a doubt, Monsaraz, which on the Portuguese side competes in this regard with the neighbor Olivenza.

Monsaraz It is a medieval walled town that can be considered one of the most beautiful towns in Portugal., and due to its location, it becomes the best viewpoint over Lake Alqueva.

Although the history of Monsaraz dates back to the time of the Lusitanians and the Romans, also with an important presence of the Arabs, its current configuration dates back to the construction of the castle by the Christians, to which several defensive walls were added.

In your visit to Monsaraz You will walk through the beautiful streets with white houses, and you will also take a tour of its walls.

Here you have extensive information for your visit of Monsaraz.

Juronmeha in Alentejo of Portugal

This old village of Alentejo Portuguese It already existed in Roman times, and was an important military bastion on the west bank of the Guadiana river.

Juronmeha It is a small town with bastioned walls that served as a fortress to defend the border area from attacks and invasions.

At the top of the town there is a castle in ruins that can be reached both from the Portuguese side and from the Spanish side, although in this case you have to do it on the boat that leaves from the aforementioned village of Villarreal.

Sierra de Alor in Badajoz

El Olivenza surroundings It also has some interesting natural landscapes.

In particular, the Alor Mountains It presents great landscape interest, and above all, great botanical wealth.

Every year it is a focus of attraction for people who come to see the famous Rose of alexandria, a flower that is very difficult to find elsewhere, and of which there is a great abundance here, as well as orchids.

Every April is a reference in Estremadura go to see her Rose of alexandria in the Alor Mountains, same as the cherry blossom in the Valle del Jerte.

Additionally the Alqueva Lake is surrounded by a real natural paradise of dehesa, of Mediterranean forest within a contour with groups of great monumental, ethnographic, historical and artistic value.

Ajuda Bridge

El ajuda bridge It is a monumental corner from the 16th century that was designed by Francisco de Arruda, who is the same architect of the Lisbon Belém Tower.

In recent times a new bridge was built next to the historic bridge that was dynamited in the 18th century.

El ajuda bridge It connected the city of Olivenza with Elvas before being destroyed.

Despite being in ruins, it is a spectacular bridge due to its dimensions, because at the time it was a prodigy of the time, especially the central arch, which was one of the largest of its time.

Aldeida da Luz in Alentejo of Portugal

As happens in many areas, when a reservoir is built there are towns that are submerged under the waters, and in the Alqueva Lake it was not going to be less.

But in the case of the town of Aldeida da Luz They wanted not to lose the essence of the town, and after an agreement with the neighbors, they rebuilt it almost as it was in its origin, in an area that was not going to flood.

The idea was for older people to identify with their new town.

In this way the streets were reproduced with the typical chimneys alenteyan, in addition to moving the tombs to incorporate them into the new town.

In this way it gives the impression that it is a town with history and personality, and with this they managed to cushion the trauma that expropriations produce among the inhabitants to bury the town under the waters.

Badajoz

La city ​​of Badajoz It is located very close to this natural region of the Alqueva Lake.

On the banks of Guadiana river and very close to the border with Portugal, this walled city is famous for its carnival, one of the most colorful and lively in the country.

It is a perfect point to use as a base camp to stay, since it has a wide range of hotels and restaurants, and it is halfway to many of the points of interest around the Alqueva Lake.

Elvas, World Heritage Site in Portugal

You have another alternative just on the other side of the border, in the also walled one. Elvas, declared city Heritage awarded by the Unesco due to its large network of defensive fortifications.

It is said that Elvas It is the key that gave access to both sides, so that if the city fell, the border would be broken.

I can tell you that on a getaway to the region of Alqueva Lake It is worth including a walk through the historic center of Elva.

Tourism activities to do around Lake Alqueva

This paraje natural unique so well preserved, gives rise to a multitude of tourism activities where you can get to know the surroundings and there are some great ones.

Alqueva astronomical observatory

Within continental Europe, Extremadura is one of the best regions for stargazing.

There is a growing hobby of people traveling to corners of the world with little light pollution to see the stars.

Estremadura It has a favorable situation for this observation since there are many days without clouds, very low atmospheric pollution and, above all, very low light pollution.

In fact, many towns have undertaken a joint project to improve energy efficiency by replacing current lighting with other lighting systems. LED that they do not point to the sky, but towards the ground.

And the best way to enjoy this clear sky is visit the Alqueva Observatory.

They offer a very interesting activity that consists of seeing the moon, stars and galaxies with their own telescopes.

After a very interesting brief explanation about the universe, its formation and what we can observe from the earth, you go out to an outdoor area that has been set up to see one of the cleanest skies in Europe.

As a curiosity, during the bird migration season you can see the silhouette of birds flying while you observe the moon.

Unique experience one hundred percent recommended.

Wild bull safari in the province of Badajoz

If there is an activity that is unique and special in this environment, it is touring the Extremadura pastures between Fighting bulls.

The sensation of seeing bulls in freedom at a very short distance is something that is not easily forgotten.

It is an excursion in the pure style of the african safaris in which you travel the plains in search of lions, rhinos or elephants... but in this case they are brave bulls and in Extremadura.

For those of us who are not used to seeing this majestic animal so close, it is a highly recommended activity.

The visit is made in private estates, so it is mandatory to do it with a guide who takes you in his all-terrain vehicle and who knows the animal perfectly so that the activity is safe.

It is absolutely prohibited to do it on your own.

Here we leave you information in case you want to sign up for a brave bull safari in Extremadura.

Culture of Iberian Ham from Extremadura

Another activity It is very interesting to know the entire process around the culture of Iberian Ham in Extremadura, from how they live Iberian pigs in the pastures, until the moment of eating it.

It is a excursion in which you begin by knowing and visiting the famous Extremadura pastures where pigs live freely while feeding on acorns.

Do you know how you have to be a pig to be called Iberian pig?

There they will explain to you the characteristics that the pig must have in order to be able to label it. Iberian, and everything related to the culture of this animal in the region.

It is a very interesting experience because there is a whole world behind one of the most emblematic products in the country.

In addition, you visit the drying rooms where the hams rest and mature, something that is usually difficult to see, and of course, you learn how to cut Iberian ham, which you end up tasting.

Berrea or bird safari

There are two safaris that are very special experiences, to the point that they can only be done at a certain time, the bellowing and sighting of migratory birds.

These are two times of the year when the entire area is filled with visitors to see this unique natural event.

One is the bellowing, which is the name given to the sound that male deer make during the mating season; the other is the therapy. taking advantage of migratory steps.

You should also know that Estremadura It is an area where some of the largest bird species in the region live all year round. Iberian Peninsula.

Balloon or small plane flight over Lake Alqueva

The best way to see the impressive surroundings of the Alqueva Lake It is one of the two options available in the area, balloon flight or in plane.

In our case we were going to do the balloon flight, but the weather conditions did not allow it, so we changed options and carried out the plane flight.

We did this very special experience from an airfield near Badajoz, so this city was our first view from the air.

We took a tour in which we flew over Olivenza, Juronmeha, Villareal and of course the enormous Extremadura pastures.

Next time we will try it again in a balloon, because we already know that it is not always possible and we are left wanting.

How to get to Lake Alqueva

El Alqueva Lake spreads across the border between Portugal and Spain, specifically in the badajoz province in Extremadura.