Soure

We are sure of the existence of a Roman camp in Soure. A milestone marks the Roman road from Olisipo (Lisbon) to Conímbriga. The milestone can be seen today at the Museum of Soure where there is also a sarcophagus from a Roman mausoleum that was found in the necropolis of the Church of Santa Maria de Finisterra.We also know that in spite of great confrontations between Christians and Arabs, to which this area was subject for long periods, there was a clever equilibrium based on the tolerance between the two communities, which allowed for the building of a Christian Monastery in Soure, dating from back to 1043. We can therefore imagine a prosperous Mozarab Community, which left us signs of the Gharb al Ândaluz. In the Castle of Soure we can still see an Arab window dating from the second half of the 11th century.  During the works prior to the Christian retaking, it was used as the lintel for the door to the dungeon.  When visiting Soure you'd better start with the castle and its surrounding area. However do not miss the old 19th century palace-like houses as well as the Churches of São Tiago and of the Misericórdia and the Várzea Park. If you come in the right season it is in the Várzea Park that you can decide to try some delicious fried eels, duck rice and the tasty “chanfana”.  When deciding on sweets do not forget to taste the “Pão-de-Ló” from Soure and olive oil biscuits. Soure was privileged by a remarkable nature. Climbing the Rabaçal Mountain, near Degracias, is an encounter with the karst environment of the Maciço de Sicó. Karren fields, oak groves and innumerable aromatic herbs perfume the air.  The Olive trees, the cereals and the water mills mark the south.  But on the west the view is very different! At the Paúl da Madriz – a special protected area – 38 hectares of humid lands shelter birds on their migration route and host during the whole year many other species: great flocks of ducks, and the very rare bittern, small herons and sultana fowls.  Through the leaves of the red-mace, the colours of the dragonflies are amazing.