I will be traveling in Portugal in late June and wanted to see cork being harvested. I will be in the Evora area, which purportedly is in the cork producing part of Portugal. Are there tours? How does one find one/book one? How long are they? If Evora is not the place to do this, can someone recommend a place from which I could do a cork harvesting tour? Also, are there tours of the megalithic sites around Evora, that someone not driving a rental car can still go on to see the sites? Thank you,
Posted by
Rhode Island, USA
471 posts
I am not sure of the cork industry in the Evora area, although you can see the cork trees along the highway to the Algarve, about 45 minutes outside of Lisbon. I have visited the town of Silves in the Algarve area and it has a wonderful museum dedicated to cork; the website is: http://www.visitportugal.com/NR/exeres/BEDDD97F-3363-4399-9862-82D57556A7F1,frameless.htm There is also a very old castle in the same city that is definitely worth a visit! I hope this might help a little :)
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
I don't know about a cork tour, but I do know about the Almendres Cromlech. Two years ago, with the help of my hotel receptionist in Evora, I hired a taxi driver to take me there for 40 Euros. The stone circle is 20 min. from Evora and there are two sites: one lone menhir that you have a short walk for, then the main stone circle a couple of minutes further. The whole outing lasted less than two hours and I felt that it was worth it. I was alone at the site at the time and appreciated the sense of agelessness and quiet that afforded me. I had already printed good info about it and felt that a commentary from a tour guide would have been superfluous. I am sure that something similar can be arranged if you explain your interest in seeing cork harvested. Lots of cork trees everywhere there, and venerable old olive trees too! Buy some cork products for sure, I picked up a very nice purse. Also do not fail to try the local wines; I liked the wines from Evora better than the ones from the Douro and THAT is saying something coming from me, LOL! My favorite restaurant in Portugal is in Evora: the M'ar de Ar Aqueduto (Chef António Nobre). Enjoy the Alentejo, it's one of my favorite spots in Europe!