What to visit
Chapel of São Paio
In 1885, in Castro de S. Paio, a small chapel was built, in the middle of an agricultural field facing the sea.
The chapel stands out for its altar that was made in a rock brought from the ocean. It is surrounded by farming areas and rural roads, at the top of cliffs that descend on the beach.
A must-visit place for culture lovers and pilgrims who travel the Camino de Santiago.
Castro de São Paio
Castro de São Paio is one of the most emblematic and beautiful places in Labruge.
As an archaeological site, Castro de S. Paio is the only maritime castro that exists in Portuguese territory, with others known in the Galicia area.
Since the 90s of the 20th century, it has been the target of several actions for safeguarding and conservation, which include the archaeological excavations that were the target between 1993 and 1996.
Interpretative Center Castro S. Paio
The Castro de S. Paio Interpretive Center, opened in August 2013, located in the place of Moreiró in Labruge, is located next to the castros beach.
This exhibition space is located next to the beach. In this way, all the speech and expository supports were thought to be a complement to leisure. Here the visitor can find answers about the ruins of the Iron Age castro that overlaps the beach, understand the geological formations that surround it, know the species that make this place unique.
The Castro de S. Paio Interpretative Center highlights the archaeological remains there, but it is not limited to this theme. The surroundings of Castro de S. Paio, integrated in the Ornithological Reserve of Mindelo, preserve other heritage values that are rarely explored and explained together. For this reason, museologically it was also thought of in order to accommodate the teachings that the Geology and Biology of the place transmit to us, seeking to satisfy the curiosity of a wider public.
Foz do Rio Onda
The River Onda marks the border between the Municipality of Matosinhos and the Municipality of Vila do Conde, between the Union of Parishes of Perafita, Lavra and Santa Cruz do Bispo and the parish of Labruge.
This is born in “Poça do Inferno”, parish of Guilhabreu where it is known as Rio de Moures. This waterline belongs to the hydrographic region of Cávado, Ave and Leça, with a total length of 10.2 km and 48.5 km2 of hydrographic basin area.
The Onda River flows between the beaches of Angeiras and Labruge and has a pedestrian crossing at its mouth that connects the two parishes. As a place to visit, the River Onda is privileged for its local heritage, where you can find some water mills that, in the past, were prevalent in this region.
Church of São Tiago de Labruge
The parish church, eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century temple, stands next to the royal road that, at least since the Middle Ages, connected Porto and Vila do Conde along the coast.
Currently, it is covered by thousands of pilgrims bound for Santiago de Compostela.
The church of São Tiago de Labruge is an important religious monument to visit that is integrated in the Caminhos de Santiago.
Geodetic Landmark
Better known as the Geodetic Vertex, the Labruge Geodetic Landmark is an important monument that served for location.
In practice, this landmark is a sign that indicates an exact cartographic position, through a triangulation system with other geodetic vertices.
A curiosity: high and isolated sites with clear line of sight to other vertices are usually chosen.
Windmills
In the past, water mills used to harness the kinetic energy of water movement, with a view to grinding grains, irrigating rice fields, draining wetlands or even generating electricity.
Currently, there are ten structures of mills that follow the course of the River Onda to Foz. Thus, you can visit Moinho da Estrada, Moinho da Igreja, Moinho do Camaz, Moinho do Moleiro, Moinho Velho, Moinho do Sol Posto, Moinho do Neiva, Moinho do Passeio, Moinho da Valéria and Moinho do Canaira.
Labruge walkways
The Labruge Footbridges are 2.1 km long and have a seafront of 2.0 km.
This tour is full of natural landscapes of enormous beauty, which provide calm and well-being. Here you will be in contact with nature, on a perfect route for all tastes, from passionate about biology and geology, athletes and sportsmen as well as for those who just want to rest.
These are all the reasons that make Labruge Walkways an excellent place to visit.
Labruge Beach
Labruge Beach has a very long sand of about 1 km, which almost disappears in the central area due to the massive presence of rock formations.
The northern area is home to immense rock formations that are uncovered during low tide.
The most suitable places for bathing are the central area in front of the concession and the southern area, next to the mouth of the River Onda. Still, its beach supports satisfy the most demanding, this being a guarded area, with a bar, toilets among many typical summer diversions.
It should be noted that it is a blue flag beach and in the category “accessible beach”.
Moreiró Beach
Moreiró Beach, located in a rural area, is a place of great beauty. The beach maintains a peaceful environment, being very popular with families during the bathing season.
The northern half of the beach, with extensive sand, contrasts with the southern part, limited by a rocky area.
Nearby is Castro de São Paio or Sampaio, a small Iron Age town dating from 2,000 B.C. and which is a rare example of its location by the sea.
Also note that it is a blue flag beach with the category “accessible beach”.
