Presentation
Labruge is a coastal parish in the municipality of Vila do Conde with approximately 5.75 km2 and about 2,800 inhabitants.
It is located at the southern end of the municipality and is 11.3 km from its center, bordering the parishes of Vila Chã, to the North, Modivas, Vilar and Aveleda, to the East. It is separated from the municipality of Matosinhos by the River Onda that borders the parish of Lavra, to the south.
Its main economic activity is agriculture, namely the exploration for livestock, integrating itself in the Northwest dairy basin.
The landscape is still quite rural, dominated by fields of cultivation and forest. With the intense constructive activity of the last two decades, the landscape has undergone a lot of changes, mainly next to the beach, where there has been a significant increase in the housing stock.
As a natural heritage, it integrates the Regional Protected Landscape of the Coast of Vila do Conde, possessing a diversity of biological and landscape values such as dune cords, rocks and wetlands. Its beaches are quite appealing, visited in great numbers during the bathing season, having been awarded the blue flag. It has two concession areas, with all support equipment.
Regarding the archaeological heritage, there is the Castro de S. Paio, where traces associated with the Upper Paleolithic were found. In that same place there was an Iron Age settlement that was dedicated mainly to fishing activities. It is the closest Castro to the coast in Portuguese territory.
The parish is equipped with equipment for the development of cultural and sports activities, with emphasis on the headquarters building of the Junta de Freguesia and the sports pavilion. In 2011, the new Labruge school center was opened, serving pre-school and 1st cycle education, offering all conditions for comfort and learning. The population also has a Family Health Unit.
The associative movement presents itself as an asset, developing a series of cultural and recreational activities with added value for the population.
