Silver Coast Portugal

RailAway

One evening we saw a TV program called RailAway following a train journey though Portugal. The next three evenings they showed the train journey from Porto to Lisbon, through the Alentejo and Evora and from Castelo Branco to Gouveia, finally back to Entroncamento station where the Railway Museum is located.

This museum was already on our to-do list for after the season, so ..... on a cold but sunny November day we went to Entroncamento, accompanied by our neighbour Bob Scott. Bob worked in the automotive industry prior to his retirement so technology is really his ‘thing’, consequently we learned quite a bit more about car and train technology.

Reception at the Railway Museum gave us a warm welcome and an explanation about the history and construction of the museum. The Receptionist wanted toknow how we found out about the museum and where we came from. We had seen it on Facebook and a leaflet but also through the TV program. He found the latter interesting and we told him there was a possibility of watching the program again through ‘Uitzending gemist’. We then started our journey through the museum.

In the first part of the Museum there are displays of scale model trains, an old-fashioned ticket machine, train timetables with arrival and departure times and various tools for working on the track. There is a real office of a platform master and even an infirmary for travellers who need it.

After this we came out onto the 'marshalling yard' and crossed over the rails to the trains which are partly outside and partly in the old railway buildings. Outdoors we were amazed particularly by the well-maintained steam locomotives. The refurbishing and maintenance of all the trains is done by a large group of volunteers.The museum houses a 160-year-old cultural heritage display with around 36,000 objects, large and small, from the early days of the steam locomotive to the railways of the future. This is truly a centre of knowledge on the historical and technological role of rail transport in Portugal. It is open to the general public and continues to evolve to meet the needs and expectations of the visitor . As far as we are concerned, they have certainly succeeded.

The motto of the employees and volunteers: This museum is for you. This museum is for everyone. Discover a museum that brings past and present together.

The Railway Museum is situated in the Entroncamento Railway Complex, in an area of ​​4.5 hectares with 19 railway lines.

www.fmnf.pt

• Timetables and destinations Timetables and destinations
• Steam train Steam train
• Traindepot Traindepot
• Restored locomotive Restored locomotive
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Picturesque fortified town continues to fascinate

South of Caldas da Rainha, is the town of Óbidos. Óbidos is a fortified town located on top of a hill, and still encircled by high walls. Once the town was surrounded by sea, so it was of strategic importance, which explains the high location and high walls.
Dom Dinis gave the town of Óbidos to his wife Isabela as a wedding gift. Together they spent their honeymoon in Óbidos. For ages Óbidos was the wedding gift for every new Portuguese queen.

The whole of the town of Óbidos is declared as a monument. It has many streets, alleys, squares, white houses, shops, and restaurants. The walls are still completely intact, so you can walk all around the village.

Just before the entrance you can find the Tourism office, here you can get your own copy of the Óbidos map and lots of other information.

The Castelo

The Castelo is very old. During the earthquake of 1755 it was heavily damaged. In the 20th century the ruins were reconstructed. After te reconstruction the castle became Portugal’s first poussada in a historic building. Unfortunately it is not open for the public, only for hotel guests.

Caldas da Rainha has a history of the artisanal and industrial production of ceramics. The colourful azulejos (tiles) are a good example. The history of ceramics in this town is also the 'raw material' for contemporary artists.

Ceramics workshops and museums:
 

• Museu da Cerâmica: exhibition of an important collection of ceramics from the 16th to the 20th century. The museum is located in a beautiful villa, surrounded by gardens.
• Casa Museu de São Rafael: exhibition of ceramics by the artist São Rafael, made by the Bordallo Pinheiro factory. www.bordallopinheiro.com
• Atelier-Museu António Duarte: exhibition of work by of sculptor António Duarte (1912-1998)
• Atelier-Museu João Fragoso: exhibition of work by sculptor João Fragoso (1913-2000)
   

Other museums:
 

• Museu do Hospital e das Caldas da Rainha: museum on 5 centuries of medicinal springs, and the thermal hospital in Caldas da Rainha. The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, carvings, clothing, furniture, ceramics, and medical / scientific instruments.
• Museu Barata Feyo: exhibition of work by sculptor Barata Feyo (1899-1990)
• Museu José Malhoa: exhibitions of paintings by José Malhoa (1855-1933), and work by other Portuguese artists
• Espaço Concas: exhibition of paintings by Maria da Conceição Nunes, also known as Concas (1946-1991), in the Centro de Artes
• Museu do Ciclismo: exhibition on cycling in Portugal

Hypermodern museum on bloody battle

In São Jorge (between Aljubarrota and Batalha) you can find the Battle of Aljubarrota Interpretation Centre, one of the most modern museums of Europe. By using advanced media it takes visitors back to the year 1385. There is an exhibition, an educational area, but also a shop, restaurant and picknick garden. And what about the “medieval machines activity park” with games and wooden machines which can be activated by visitors. A fun day out!

www.fundacao-aljubarrota.pt

Marinha Grande: The glass centre of the region

Apart from the glass museum Museo do Vidro in the former residence of Stephens, where glass-ware of the 17th to the 20th century is on display, there are 2 more museums about the glass industry.

• Museu Santos Barosa: Santos Barosa is the oldest glass factory of Portugal, and it's still in operation. There is also a museum at the factory, the collection shows how glass was made and used through the ages.

• The Joaquim Correia museum is the former residence of one of the The Joaquim Correia museum is the former residence of one of the most prominent families of Marinha Grande. The house dates back from 19th century. and houses the artistic legacy of Joaquim Correia. He was born in 1920 into a family of glassblowers. He studied sculpting, first in Porto and later in Lisbon. He was a student of renowned artists such as Simões de Almeida (cousin), Francisco Franca, Barata Feyo and António Duarte.

Interactive museum offers you a historical journey

The municipal museum of Batalha was opened in 2011. It was founded to support the cultural heritage of the village. The museum has some interactive features, and takes you on a journey through the past to the present.

In the historical archives you can also see the excavations of the Roman city of Collipo, that once was built in the Batalha area.

www.museubatalha.com

Back from the Past

In February 2018 the Dino Parque is opened, a large park near Lourinhã where you can see many dinosaurs in full size.

www.dinoparque.pt

At Bairro (between Fátima and Torres Novas) you can see a trail (almost 150 meters long) of dinosaur footprints, called the Pedreira do Galinha. The footprints date back 175 million years. You can see all of the excavation from the footpath along the trail.

www.pegadasdedinossaurios.org
 

Dinosaur museum

In Lourinhã you can visit the Museu da Lourinhã, where you can see fossilised bones, footprints, eggs and even embryos from Jurassic dinosaurs.

www.museulourinha.org