where the Mondego is still young
It rises in the Serra da Estrela and hasn't seen anything of the world yet. It's here, close to the villages of Vila Cortez do Mondego and Porto da Carne, that the river passes through an almost adolescent phase, with clean cold water and shadows that fall heavily on the bank.
The Praia Fluvial do Vale do Mondego has the right scale for a day without big ambitions. Grass, sand, barbecues, a support bar. Nothing to distract you from the essential, which is the water. The younger crowd understands this well, and the place becomes theirs over the course of summer without any ceremony.
The Mondego travels through the whole centre of the country before reaching the Atlantic at Figueira da Foz. Here, in this valley in the Guarda district, it's still at the beginning. Swimming near the source of the country, even if you don't tell anyone.
what you take there
- cold water, even in August
- natural shade without having to fight for it
- access to barbecues for a leisurely lunch
- a valley setting that cuts you off from everything else
- parking that makes the logistics easier with a family
