Vilar: Reservoir, Water Activities and Cultural History

When planning your trip to Vilar, it is worth considering water activities and cultural history as distinct themes. The reservoir at Barragem de Vilar was created when the dam was built, impounding the waters of the Rio Távora. This history also provides the backdrop for leisure activities on the water and for changes brought about in the surrounding area by the impounded water.

Activities on the Reservoir

A municipal listing updated in 2021 says that GaivotAventura offers activities every year during the summer months on the calm waters of Barragem de Vilar. These include pedal boat and canoe rides, as well as use of a diving platform. Pedal boats and canoes are for trips on the water; the platform adds another way to enjoy the water. Before your trip, check whether the seasonal activities are currently taking place.

Parque Aventura Crónicas da Terra offers a different leisure program. The park is located on the Albufeira of Barragem do Vilar, in the municipality of Moimenta da Beira. A municipal listing updated in 2021 includes canoeing, a bridge course, abseiling, climbing, a zip line, mountain biking, paintball, rafting, orienteering, shooting, group games, and hiking trails. The range therefore extends from water activities to climbing and other active pursuits, as well as games and hiking trails. Check the current availability of activities before your visit.

There is also a camping and caravan park near the bathing area, with swimming pools for adults and children, a multi-purpose sports court, a volleyball court, and a bungalow. These details provide an overview of the facilities by the water; check their current status before your trip.

Culture and History in Vilar

The celebrations in honor of the patron saint São Bartolomeu also have a specific historical connection. On August 24, 2017, a solemn mass and a procession took place. During the procession, around 25 biblical figures were carried through the parish’s main streets.

Another historical trace is the former Ponte de Fonte Arcada. It connected Fonte Arcada with Vilar before being flooded in 1965 by the impounded waters of Barragem do Vilar. The remains of the bridge lie permanently below the minimum water level. In Vilar, today’s leisure activities on the reservoir thus sit alongside a history in which its creation changed a former connection between two places.

Planning Your Stay

The Rota do Távora is certified by the Federação de Campismo e Montanhismo de Portugal. Together with the hiking trails listed in the program at Parque Aventura Crónicas da Terra, it provides another point of reference for travelers interested in routes.

If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Vilar, these different themes can help you plan your stay: seasonal water activities, a broad leisure program, the history of the bridge, or the cultural connection to São Bartolomeu. The information about the season and the facilities by the water can help you check suitable options in advance, without confusing the historical procession with a future event date.

Discover more destinations: Paradinha, Leomil, Caria, Moimenta Da Beira, Alvite.

Go to the main travel overview: Moimenta Da Beira.