Vila do Conde: Land of History and Tradition

Welcome to my town - Vila do Conde: Land of History and Tradition

Historical Places

The Convent of Saint Claire

Historical Places

Mother Church

Historical Places

Historical Places

Historical Places

Historical Places

Historical Places

Natural Beauty

BOBBIN LACE MUSEUM

Natural Beauty

The Hillfort of Bagunte

Nau / 16th century ship replica

The Aqueduct of Saint Claire

Royal Customs - Shipbuilding Museum

MINDELO ORNITHOLOGICAL RESERVE

Ave River

Monastery or Convent of Saint Claire / Mosteiro ou Convento de Santa Clara Founded in 1318, it was one of the biggest and richest feminine convents in Portugal. The large historical complex includes the Gothic Santa Clara Church (1318), nearby Manueline late Gothic constructions and the current proper monastery, built in the early phase of the neoclassical style in 1777. The Monastery is located in a hilltop and includes large walls that protect the monastery from the east and the Santa Clara Aqueduct, the second largest aqueduct in Portugal. The monastery is considered a fundamental temple of the Portuguese Gothic architecture North of Douro river. Behind its walls, many centuries of stories, legends and traditions can be traced to this day.

Mother Church / Igreja Matriz The Mother Church (16th century) is one of the most emblematic monuments of the county. Its portal constitutes a magnificent example of manueline decoration in Portugal, presenting elements of gothic and renaissance architecture.

Nau - 16th century ship replica During the 16th century, Vila do Conde reached its commercial and maritime golden age with the shipbuilding industry, in direct connection with the Portuguese Discoveries. Memories of those times can be seen in the 16th century ship replica that the town built and is an attraction definitely not to be missed.

The Aqueduct of Saint Claire The Aqueduct of Saint Claire is the second longest in the country. National Geographic magazine considered it the 4th most beautiful in the world. It was built in the 18th century and is classified as a National Monument since 1910.

The Hillfort of Bagunte The Hillfort of Bagunte is one of the most important archaeological sites of the Iron Age of the north of Portugal. It is a pre-Roman classified settlement, classified as a National Monument, inhabited by the Galicians between the fourth century BC and the fourth century AD.

Royal Customs - Shipbuilding Museum / Alfândega Régia - Museu da Construção Naval The building of the Alfândega Régia - Museu da Construção Naval, was built in the year 1487. Throughout the 18th century, the Customs underwent several renovations, in order to meet the needs dictated by the intense commercial traffic. With the end of its function, the building was gettiing in a process of deterioration, being used during the 20th century to support the services of the Fiscal Guard and as a warehouse for shipbuilding shipyards until 1993. In 2001 it was completely rehabilitated and converted into a museological space, such as the replica of a Quinhentista Nau. The permanent exhibition takes on three aspects: Portuguese navigation; the history of the Royal Customs and the history of shipbuilding, types of boats built in Vila do Conde and the respective construction techniques and processes used in wooden shipbuilding.

Bobbin Lace Museum / Musem das Rendas de Bilros The Bobbin Lace Museum is a place dedicated to the art of bobbin lacemaking, where you can find the largest bobbin lace in the world. It has a learning school, free of charge. The Bobbin Lace Museum of Vila do Conde is housed in the historical area of the city. The Bobbin Lace Museum was installed here in 1991, with the purpose of protecting and promoting this secular art, safeguarding the traditions and heritage of the city. The permanent exhibition allows the visualization of several models of bobbin laces, from the oldest to the most modern, drawings, paperboards and documents, as well as a collection of bobbins and foreign cushions. The museum’s flagship item is undoubtedly the Largest Bobbin Lace in the World, with 52m², a title awarded by the Guiness World Records on August 2nd 2015.

Mindelo Ornithological Reserve / Reserva Ornitológica de Mindelo For decades, the Mindelo Ornithological Reserve, currently included in the North Coast Regional Protected Landscape, was a unique space that marked the birth of the scientific study of birds and nature conservation in Portugal and worldwide. Created in 1957, the Mindelo Ornithological Reserve was the first classified area of the country, with 411 hectares (extended to 183 hectares, to the mouth of the river Ave, in 1959).Currently is a place of refuge for more than a hundred species of birds, especially migratory birds. It is also a unique area in the north Portuguese coast by biodiversity that contains in terms of the flora, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, for which contributes the set of temporary ponds in dune areas and some permanent ponds in the pine forest area.

Ave River / Rio Ave The Ave River flows into the Atlantic Ocean in the city of Vila do Conde. Stand up paddling is becoming one of the fastest growing water sports. Because of its ideal conditions, Vila do Conde is one of the best places to learn how to stand up paddle. You can also go surfing, canoeing, bodyboarding, windsurfing, rowing, kayaking, etc.