Vau on the Lagoa de Óbidos

Vau combines a lagoon landscape, birdwatching and local traditions into a destination offering many different discoveries. Vau lies on the southern side of the Lagoa de Óbidos, where the Poça do Vau is also located. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Vau can shape their stay according to whether nature observation, physical activity, history or regional cuisine should be the focus.

Lagoon, Poças and birdwatching

The Lagoa de Óbidos is home to a high level of biological diversity. It is also possible to observe the migration movements of various bird species there. The Poça do Vau is particularly interesting: in spring, purple herons, marsh harriers and great reed warblers can be found here. The Poças are home to numerous rare bird species and are regarded as one of the best areas in Europe for birdwatching. This gives Vau a concrete appeal for travellers who like to combine their days with nature observation and landscape experiences.

For walks, the Rota das Poças follows the Poça do Vau on the way back to the village. Along the route, there are views of the lagoon, the Poça and the surrounding lowlands. Those who prefer a longer route can take the Ecovia da Lagoa, a path that encircles the entire water surface of the Lagoa de Óbidos. Another view of the landscape is offered by the Curva do Gronho opposite the “Aberta”, the connection between the Lagoa de Óbidos and the Atlantic Ocean. From there, a large part of the lagoon can be seen.

Beach, trails and practical orientation

Praia do Bom Sucesso, also called Praia do Vau, lies on the southern shore of the Lagoa de Óbidos near the lagoon opening. It can be reached via Exit 14 of the A8 motorway. What this means when choosing your accommodation: when planning your trip, consider whether you want to focus on the Poça do Vau, the trails around the lagoon, the beach landscape or a mixture of different experiences. The places and trails mentioned offer different ideas for your days without requiring you to commit to just one type of stay.

For a trip with children, too, it can be helpful to alternate between nature, physical activity and cultural impressions. Birdwatching focuses on quiet moments, while the trails along the lagoon offer an active perspective on the landscape. For accommodation in Vau, the desired structure of your days is therefore a particularly useful starting point: nature enthusiasts should pay attention to their planned observation and walking destinations, while travellers interested in culture should focus on the local sites and festivals.

History, windmills and regional festivals

At Sítio da Cabana, several commemorative plaques recall the history of the place. One plaque commemorates the fact that King João IV had lunch there on 14 September 1645. Two windmills are also still well preserved in Vau; at least one of them remains fully operational. The history of the church also reaches back a long way: a hermitage initially dedicated to Saint Anthony was later replaced by a chapel under the patronage of Nossa Senhora da Piedade. In 1747, this chapel became the church of Vau.

Religious traditions shape the local annual cycle. The festival of Nossa Senhora da Piedade is celebrated on 18 December; the Eucharistic celebration is followed by a procession through the parish of Vau. The Círio of the church of Vau is a religious procession along a route between Vau and the Ermida da Virgem do Bom Sucesso. It is attended by riders, a flag, a child dressed as an angel and an invited brass band.

Local identity also includes the handicrafts closely associated with the lagoon and the production of equipment for fishing and shellfish gathering, including the Galrricho. At the Festa da Lagoa, cuisine is combined with performances by rock, popular music and folk groups. During the festivities, fishermen and their families prepare, among other things, eels, clams and mussels, allowing hundreds of passers-by to taste the flavours of the lagoon.

Further places for orientation

If you would like to compare Vau with other destinations or expand your travel planning, you can also look at Usseira, A dos Negros, Amoreira, Olho Marinho, Óbidos and Sobral da Lagoa. This makes it easier to assess which place matches your desired nature, cultural and landscape experiences.

To the higher-level travel overview: Óbidos.