Return to Serenity - Foz de Alge > Valbom Rest Area - GRZ on Foot: Stage 3

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Safety information

Take the necessary precautions for high temperatures in summer and slippery terrain in the winter. The levels of difficulty and times given are only indicative. They were calculated on a physical effort basis and do not include stops. Make your estimate by analising the technical data of path to be taken.

 

Contact information

SOS Emergency: 112

SOS Forest: 117

Figueiró dos Vinhos Municipal Council: 236 559 550,  

Tips and hints

The history of Foz de Alge is closely linked to the history of its forges, the river that gives it its name and the Zêzere River. On the banks of this small river, the Alge, you can find the most important evidence of the history of the industry in the country, the Foz de Alge Forges, which spanned three centuries of Portuguese history, operating from 1692 to 1834. Founded in 1692, the result of the industrial promotion policy of D. Pedro II, these forges used the latest technology in Europe, using the force of the Alge River as a driving force for the variety of equipment used. In 1761, the Marquis of Pombal ordered their closure, probably as a result of poor management and low yields. However, the 19th century brought new investment in iron manufacturing and, in 1802, orders were given to begin operation under the control of José Bonifácio de Andrade e Silva. In this phase, there was Germanic technical influence. They operated until 1834 when the losses incurred by the state, low production, and bad operation led to their closure once again. In this region, the eagle-owl and the alder are the prime examples of fauna and flora. Among the many activities that can be practised here, traditional fishing prominently stands out. The traditional boats of the Zêzere River still endure, the three-board boats, still used in fishing and transportation between the banks. 

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