Parques de Portugal

Fonte da Bica or Rio Maior Salterns

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Also known as Salterns of Rio Maior is one the symbols of Rio Maior city, which has a reference to their pyramids on the municipal coat of arms. It’s a rock salt mine, very extensive and deep, crossed by an underground stream that feeds a well, so the water extracted is salted (7 times more than the Atlantic Ocean). In June to mid-September the water, exposed to sun and wind, evaporates, and the salt is stored in curious wooden buildings with keys and locks also in this material, built in this way since Roman times. Explored also in Middle Age, since at least 1177 (when part passed into the possession of the Templars), in the 15th century, Afonso V, King of Portugal, owned 5 salterns.

In the past, the majority of salt producers were farmers, who from May to September dedicated to the salt production, and the profits divided between the owner of part of the saltern and the worker. Since 1979, it is managed by Cooperativa Agrícola dos Produtores de Sal de Rio Maior (Rio Maior Agricultural Cooperative of Salt Producers).

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  • Also known as Salterns of Rio Maior is one the symbols of Rio Maior city, which has a reference to their pyramids on the municipal coat of arms. It’s a rock salt mine, very extensive and deep, crossed by an underground stream that feeds a well, so the water extracted is salted (7 times more than the Atlantic Ocean). In June to mid-September the water, exposed to sun and wind, evaporates, and the salt is stored in curious wooden buildings with keys and locks also in this material, built in this way since Roman times. Explored also in Middle Age, since at least 1177 (when part passed into the possession of the Templars), in the 15th century, Afonso V, King of Portugal, owned 5 salterns.

    In the past, the majority of salt producers were farmers, who from May to September dedicated to the salt production, and the profits divided between the owner of part of the saltern and the worker. Since 1979, it is managed by Cooperativa Agrícola dos Produtores de Sal de Rio Maior (Rio Maior Agricultural Cooperative of Salt Producers).

  • Lisboa e Vale do Tejo

  • Rio Maior

  • Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Nature Park

  • Yes

  • Access to Rio Maior coming from:

    - Porto de Mós (± 35 km) - N243 and IC2/N2 to Rio Maior. Take R. Principal and turn left to Estrada das Salinas;

    - Leiria (± 50 km) - A19 and IC2 to Rio Maior. Take R. Principal and continue to R. Principal and follow the signs Salinas;

    - Alcanena (± 35 km) – N361 to Alcanede. There, take N362 passing through Ganfaria and Teira (don’t need to enter in Rio Maior); or

    - Lisboa – A1/E1 exit 5 to N366 direction Aveiras/Alcoentre. Follow to N366 and N1 to Rio Maior.

     

    In Rio Maior follow the signs to Salinas.

    GPS: 39.364216, -8.943972

  • Imóvel de Interesse Público

  • Imóvel de Interesse Público. Decreto n.º 67/97, DR, I Série-B, n.º 301, de 31-12-1997.

  • Cultural Historical

  • Vale tifónico da Fonte da Bica, no extremo sul da serra dos Candeeiros, a cerca de 3 km de Rio Maior.

  • Private

Contacts

Cooperativa Agrícola de Produtores de Sal de Rio Maior, C.R.L.

Fonte da Bica

Marinhas do Sal

2040-133 RIO MAIOR

E-mail: geral@coopsal.com

Telephone / Fax: 243 991 433

Cellphone: 918 761 850 | 961 421 954

 

Posto de Informação das Salinas

Telephone: (00351) 243 991 121

E-mail: turismo@cm-riomaior.pt