Matões: Lagoa da Canabrava and Oral Tradition

Matões brings together a distinctive lake landscape, a history of its own and an oral tradition. Lagoa da Canabrava shapes the natural scenery of the area; churches, Griôs and cultural festivals offer insight into other aspects of the municipality. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Matões, you can plan your trip around your interests: would you like to focus on the landscape, or are you more interested in history and tradition?

Lagoa da Canabrava and its natural setting

Lagoa da Canabrava is considered the largest lake in Matões and is about 17 kilometres long. Its size makes it a distinctive feature of the destination’s landscape. Its diverse flora and fauna are also part of its character, including numerous wild animals. For travellers interested in nature and wildlife, the lake offers a different way to explore Matões than its local history and cultural events.

The lake is also associated with sport fishing and has so far seen little tourist development. This connection with fishing and the limited tourism development shape how the lake can be understood.

Church history and oral memory

The first church in Matões was built in 1818 and dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Conceição. The Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is considered an important historical and religious landmark. A second church was later built in honour of São Sebastião. Together, the two churches point to different stages in Matões’ religious history. Those interested in this history will find specific names and an early historical reference point here, rather than just a general description of the area.

Alongside its churches, Matões preserves an oral tradition carried on by storytellers known as Griôs. Professor Francisco José da Silva, known as Chico Grud, is also associated with the study of the municipality’s history. He researches the history of Matões and is the author of the book “Caminhos e Memórias de Matões”. This combination of remembered stories and written study gives culturally curious visitors two different points of connection: the stories passed down by Griôs and the exploration of history in a book.

Festivals with specific dates

Carnaval FelizCidade 2026 lasted four days, from 14 to 17 February. It took place on Avenida Santa Luzia on a circuit featuring two Trios Elétricos. The programme also included a children’s parade called Bloquinho das Crianças. These details describe the 2026 edition and give a concrete impression of its format; they do not indicate a future date.

The II Festival de Quadrilhas Juninas Luar do Sertão 2026 was also scheduled for specific dates: it was to take place in Matões from 27 to 30 June 2026. The Matões Fest is an established tradition and a fixture in the municipality’s cultural calendar. Performances by nationally renowned artists were announced for the 2025 Matões Fest.

Getting around the municipality

Matões is in the wider Leste Maranhense region. The municipality’s rural area also offers a useful point of reference: an important access road runs between the villages of Santa Luzia and Zumbi. If you’re considering the municipality as well as the town itself when looking for a holiday rental, the villages and this road can serve as geographical reference points. The right focus for your trip still depends on your interests: the lake and wildlife are among the options, alongside church history, oral memory and festival culture.

Visit the Matões destination page. More destinations: Santa Inês, Morros.

For the broader travel overview: Maranhão.