Avis: Maranhão Reservoir, Order History and Trails

Avis combines an expansive waterscape with a history that dates back to the Middle Ages. The Maranhão Reservoir forms a 46-kilometre-long body of water and runs through the entire municipality of Avis. Its water surface covers approximately 1,960 hectares. Those planning a trip with varied daily rhythms will find opportunities here for water activities, hikes, historical discoveries and insights into the region’s culture.

Water, lakeside trails and active days

The Maranhão Reservoir is suitable for rowing, canoeing, windsurfing, fishing, water skiing and swimming. Praia Fluvial do Clube Náutico de Avis is an inland beach on the reservoir and is integrated into the Clube Náutico de Avis complex. Além Tejo – Eco Boat Tours also offers boat trips, while Azenhas da Seda offers water-based tourism activities. These different options make the lake a distinct focus of trip planning, without requiring every day to be organised in the same way.

A specific choice for a day in the countryside is route PR1 AVS “Espelho de Água do Maranhão de Avis”. The route is 7.1 kilometres long, has a low difficulty level and an estimated duration of 2 to 3 hours. It runs along the shore of the Maranhão Reservoir through landscapes of cork oaks and holm oaks and offers views of Avis. The route is part of TransAlentejo. A project also created a safe and pleasant pedestrian connection from the town to the Clube Náutico. When looking for a holiday apartment, this makes it possible to first decide whether the main focus should be on water experiences, a hike or a combination of both interests.

Avis Castle and the history of the Order

The walls and Castelo de Avis have been classified as a national monument since 16 June 1910. The lands of Avis were granted in 1211 to the Freires of the Milícia de Évora so that they could build a castle there and facilitate settlement. Construction of Castelo de Avis is believed to have begun in 1214, when D. Fernão Anes held the office of Master of the Order’s leadership. CIOA – Centro Interpretativo da Ordem de Avis presents a permanent chronological exhibition on the history of the military Order of São Bento de Avis over the centuries. CAA – Centro de Arqueologia de Avis has been housed since January 2011 in part of the São Bento de Avis monastery complex, which is classified as a property of public interest.

The Convento de São Bento de Avis was built in the first half of the 13th century. Its listed areas include the church, the old cloister, the cistern, the chapter house, the reading room, the refectory, the dormitory and the Masters’ Palace. Several rooms of the former convent house MusCA – Museu do Campo Alentejano, including the chapter house and the monks’ reading room. The museum has an inclusive exhibition area with tactile objects and labels in Braille. Its predominantly ethnographic collection represents agricultural and pastoral activities, with the Montado landscape appearing as a defining element of regional culture.

Further historical details can be found in various locations: Capela de Nossa Senhora d’Entre Águas dates from the 15th century, was altered over the centuries and incorporates Roman building structures as well as a Roman inscription. Cisterna Medieval Camarária has been part of the town’s water supply since the Middle Ages. Pelourinho de Avis is a marble monument from the 16th century that was extensively altered in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Igreja de São Saturnino e Aroeira, a 17th-century mural depicts the Evangelists.

Guided tours, regional insights and choosing accommodation

The Avis Tourist Office welcomes visitors and tourists and offers guided tours of the historic centre by prior arrangement. The free Your Travel Avis app includes a driving route through the entire municipality as well as a walking route in the historic centre. CAA – Centro de Arqueologia de Avis also offers guided tours by prior arrangement. It is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 16:00.

Regional culture also includes wine and agricultural traditions. Herdade Fonte Paredes offers wine tours and tastings by prior arrangement. Enotourism is also one of the activities of Fundação Abreu Callado, whose museum area has been established in a former granary. This allows the choice of a holiday apartment or holiday home in Avis to be tailored to the desired travel mix: water and exercise, the history of the Order and museums, or regional culture with wine and agriculture.

For further orientation, you can also visit the destination pages Avis, Ervedal, Aldeia Velha and Benavila.

For the higher-level travel overview: Portalegre.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Crato E Mártires, Sousel, Tramaga, Espinho.