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Municipality of Loulé















The municipality of Loulé occupies an area of 76 513 ha, from the mountains to the sea, bordering with the  municipalities of Almodôvar to the north, Albufeira and Silves to the West, and Faro, São Brás de Alportel, Tavira and Alcoutim to the East.  
 

Its territorial diversity and geographic location have been an attracting factor of economic activities, namely related to the tourism services.

 

Natural Areas














The algarve, and particulary the municipality of Loulé, is an excellet destination for the Nature Tourism. It has a very rich natural heritage and approximately 51,3 percent of this surface is classified as ptoiteced area, composed of wide diversity of habitats rich in flora and fauna, geological heritage and other natural resources. 
 

From the mountains to the sea, there are many landscpaces and protected areas in the municipality, especially Protected Areas Locally, as the Local Protected of Rocha da Pena located in the parishes of Salir and Benafim and Local Protected Landscape of Fonte Benémola in the parish of Querença. The Ria Formosa Natural Park is the largest and most important wetland in the Algarve, situated between the Ancão in the municipality of Loulé and Manta Rota (municipality of Vila Real de Santo António) occupying a total area of 18 400 ha belong to the municipality of Loulé, showing a high variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats.


The Rede Natura 2000 is a European ecological network of Special Protection Areas And Special Areas of Conservation, aiming the conservation of birds and their natural habitats, fauna and flora. In the municipality of Loulé these areas located in the Barrocal, Caldeirão, Ribeira do Vascão, Ribeira de Quarteira and Ria Formosa. 

 

Cultural Heritage














The presence of man in the municipality dates back to the ancient Palaeolithic, however by the end of the Neolithic there is not a complete occupation of the territory, and it is probable that the formation and development of settlement in the area of the present city of Loulé, has been verified during this last period, through the communities that used precarious habitats, like the itinerant farmers and shepherds, which are associated with the occupation of numerous underground cavities around the city.
 

There are still traces of the Romans throughout the municipality, who gave a boost to the economic activities developing the canning industry, agriculture and mining of copper and iron. With the arrival of the Muslims, marked by the great political and military instability in the Islamic world, there was a widespraed movement of the military constructions, such as the Castle of Loulé. Thus, the entire municipality of Loulé has valuable historical and cultural heritage to be admired, like the churches dating back to the second half of the 13th century, the museums and museological centres, the 17th century convents or even the megalithic monuments due the presence of other peoples in the region.

 

 

Beaches















The municipality of Loulé has a coast with length of about 13,5 km (8 miles), wich provides extensive beaches of fine sand, with average seawater temperatures of 22ºC. The beaches of Vilamoura, Quarteira, Forte Novo, Almargem, Loulé Velho, Vale do Lobo, Garão West and East, Ancão and Quinta do Lago hold the Blue Flag Award, offering excellent conditions for bathing. 


 

Golf














Due to the internationally recognized excellent golf courses, various Golf Championships are held in Vilamoura, Vila Sil, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Labo and São Lourenço, among them the Portugal Masters, Algarve Open, PGA European tour, Skins Golf and others.
 

In the municipality of Loulé there are 13 excellent golf courses, being, considered the best because of its plans and landscape. Combining these potentialities to the excellent climate of the region, these golf courses are considered the best in the Algarve region, the reason why the best golfers from around the world visit them throughout the year.

 

Restaurants and Gastronomy














The municipality offers a rich and varied cuisine, a consequence of the climate an its privileged geographic situation. The region´s cuisine is based on vegetables, wild plants, aromatic herbs next to the streams, meat from the pastures of the mountains and fresh fish from the coast, the use of olive oil to season and cook, turning the various recipes into authentic delicacies. 

The almond trees, fig trees and carob trees abound in the orchards, which the main ingredients for regional bakery and confectionery. Beyond the agriculture of the countryside, based on inherited practices from our ancestors through the ages, there is also the production of "aguardente de medronho" (distilled brandy), which is much appreciated in the region.

   

 
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