Foz de Odeleite
Local tips
Combine Foz de Odeleite with the Pernadas watermill and Odeleite village, which are on the same road. The pier is a good place to stop by the river.
Location
What's happening nearby
Upcoming events in the area
Where to eat nearby
Top restaurants in the area
Reviews
Discover more hidden treasures
More options near Castro Marim
Azinhal
Azinhal is a village close to Castro Marim and the seat of a hill parish of 68.7 square kilometres, the third largest in the municipality, with 479 residents in 2021. It is known for two things: its bread and pastries, good enough to draw people from elsewhere, and bobbin lace, still made by a handful of lacemakers who show their work at fairs and markets. Local tradition ties the origin of the lace to the Legend of Azinhal, a love story. The village has the church of Espírito Santo. To the east, on high ground, a windmill gives a sweeping view over the Guadiana. The Espaço Multiusos houses the Queijaria Experimental, which sells and offers tastings of fresh cheese and yogurt made from Algarve goat's milk. The GR15 Rota do Guadiana trail climbs to Azinhal on its stretch between Junqueira and Odeleite and meets the PR3 'Janelas do Guadiana' walk here. The village holds a monthly market.
Castro Marim
Odeleite Dam
The Odeleite dam was built in 1997 on the stream of the same name, to irrigate farmland and supply water to part of the Algarve. It is a rockfill dam with a maximum height of 65 metres and a crest 347 metres long, and its reservoir covers about 720 hectares of winding bends between steep slopes. From the air it looks like a dragon, and it was as the 'Blue Dragon' that an aerial photograph made it famous online. Since 26 June 2026 it has had a river beach, next to Odeleite village. The opening was put off for several years because of drought. The bathing area is a floating platform of 20 by 10 metres with two pools, one for children, reached by two floating walkways and a bridge. Above it are a terraced sun deck, the bar and the changing rooms. There is parking and lifeguard cover, and the site includes a centre for non-polluting water sports. In 2026 it was the only inland beach in the Algarve with a Blue Flag.
Castro Marim
Furnazinhas
Furnazinhas is a hill village in the parish of Odeleite, with narrow streets and whitewashed houses, and very well kept. It is where the second sector of the Via Algarviana ends: it leaves Balurcos, crosses the Foupana stream, one of the best preserved in the Algarve, and reaches the village after 14.3 km. Around it are ruined windmills and the remains of an old copper mine, the Caieiras mine. You can still see the shaft and the spoil heaps, flecked with green malachite; the gallery entrance is sealed. The PR9 'Mina e Albufeira' is a 7.7 km loop from the village centre that passes the mine, climbs Cerro Pelado at 231 metres for a view over the Odeleite reservoir, and drops down to the stream. There is also the PR10 'Barrancos Furnazinhas', which links to the Via Algarviana. In April the village hosts the Feira do Campo, a country fair with basketry, lace, woven palm work, honey, dried fruit and traditional sweets.
Castro Marim
Pernadas Watermill
The Moinho das Pernadas is an old watermill on the Odeleite stream, 2 km from the village on the road to Foz de Odeleite. It used the stream to grind the region's grain and kept working until around 1980, when the last miller left. The site has been restored and includes the mill, a landing stage, the miller's house, a lookout and a bread oven. Beside it are a weir, built in the mid-20th century, and a small museum with a picnic area. Two walking routes pass here: the circular PR4 'Odeleite de Perto e de Longe', and Sector 3 of the GR15, which follows the stream down to Foz de Odeleite.
Castro Marim