Golegã: Horse Culture, Museums and Nature

In Golegã, equestrian traditions, museums covering a wide range of subjects and a nearby wetland come together. You can plan your trip around events, routes, cultural history and nature watching.

Feira de São Martinho and equestrian tradition

The Feira Nacional do Cavalo dates back to the São Martinho festivities of the 18th century. At the time, horse breeders presented purebred animals in riding contests and other equestrian competitions. The Feira de São Martinho is organised by the Associação Feira Nacional do Cavalo and held each year according to regulations and an official programme.

Largo do Arneiro, also known as Largo Marquês de Pombal, is the emblematic centre of the Feira de São Martinho. The main event area comprises the Picadeiro Central and the riding track surrounding it. If you are planning your trip around the Feira, it is best to include that year’s official programme in your plans.

Competitive sport is also part of Golegã’s equestrian scene: Hippos Golegã is Portugal’s first high-performance equestrian centre. It was designed to host individual riders, as well as national and international teams and national squads, as they prepare for major competitions—including European and World Championships and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Routes with different focuses

The Rota do Cavalo e do Ribatejo consists of five themed circular routes of varying lengths and difficulty levels. They can be completed on foot, by bicycle, by car or on horseback. The Caminho Central Português offers a different route: it passes through Pombalinho and Azinhaga and ends in Golegã. This gives you a choice between circular routes of varying lengths and difficulty and a route with explicitly named places and a destination.

Wetlands and nature watching

The nearby Reserva Natural do Paul do Boquilobo is an alluvial plain with marshes and wetlands. Its ecosystem depends on the flow volumes of the Tejo and Almonda rivers that surround it. It has been recognised by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve since 1981. Guided visits offer opportunities to observe nature and biodiversity; migratory birds can also be spotted there. It is advisable to confirm in advance if you are planning a guided visit.

The main road access to the Reserva da Biosfera do Paul do Boquilobo is from the A1 via the Torres Novas exit in the direction of Golegã, through Campo da Golegã and Azinhaga. The reserve can also be reached by the Northern Line railway, getting off at Mato Miranda or Riachos, or at Entroncamento station.

Architecture and photography

The Igreja Matriz da Golegã was built in the 14th century in the Gothic style of mendicant churches, with three aisles of different heights. The 16th-century Pelourinho da Golegã stands in front of the parish church. These two buildings offer a concrete insight into the history of architecture and the town.

The Casa-Estúdio Carlos Relvas was purpose-built between 1871 and 1875 as an early, pioneering photographic studio. Its collection includes around 12,000 photographic glass plates and several thousand positive prints, as well as large-format cameras, photographic equipment and period furniture. Visits are guided only and take place in one-hour time slots; they include an audiovisual presentation about the life and work of Carlos Relvas (1838–1894). So allow an hour for this visit.

Museums covering technology and everyday history

The Museu Municipal da Máquina de Escrever displays more than 400 typewriters, including examples from around the world. Documents and accessories also illustrate their maintenance and use, including postcards, instruction manuals, advertising posters and invoices, as well as ribbons, spools and cleaning tools. The museum is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

The Museu Rural focuses on agricultural equipment, rural and domestic items, and clothing. It also serves as a venue for singing and dancing that recreate historical scenes, such as unpicking shirts. The Museu Manuel dos Santos preserves trophies and personal mementos belonging to the Portuguese bullfighter; a biographical panel complements them with photographs and information about his life as a person and a bullfighter. The Núcleo Museológico do Centro Português de Geo-História e Pré-História offers a different perspective on history, showing the biological, physical and technological development of humans during prehistory.

Public transport within the municipality

Launched on 6 April 2026, USO is an on-demand taxi service in the municipality of Golegã that supplements regular public transport. Check current transport conditions before travelling, as services may change.

Discover more destinations: Golegã, Rio Maior, São Nicolau, Tomar, Samora Correia, Pego, Alpiarça Municipality, Entroncamento.

To the main travel overview: Santarem.