Vilanova de Cerveira. Lenta beach

About this heritage

On the Miño river´s banks is the Lenta fluvial beach which belongs to the village of Lovelhe, in Vila Nova de Cerveira which belongs at the same time to Viana do Castelo district in the northern region of Portugal.

This beautiful fluvial beach is located in a kind of sand tongue that is situated in the Miño river creating a small peninsula. It has good access and equipment such as playground, picnic area, benches to rest, as well as a restaurant and a bar. It is an idyllic place where you can observe Miño´s waters, near its mouth, and the species of flora and fauna typical of the river.

It can be accessed from Vilanova de Cerveira because there is an eco-path that connects to Valença, which runs along the river bank and has an extension of 13. 5 km. It is ideal for cycling at any time of the year.

Very close to this enclave is located on a plateau, opposite the Miño, the San Francisco de Lovelhe fort or watchtower. They built this fortress because the one in Vilanova de Cerveira did not guarantee the stretch of the Miño defence, as it was not at all adapted to the use of artillery.

The building is made up of a small pentagonal floor plan and consists of five irregular defences. Its construction began in 1642 and 1663, during the Restoration War and then it was renovated in 1797. In 1809 it was destroyed by General Soult's troops. It is currently in ruins.

To learn more

Another important enclave in the area that indicates human settlement since ancient times, and with centuries of history that are related to Vila Nova de Ceveira is the archaeological station of Lovelhe. Here, you can see ruins from the military period. A central street separates two blocks, with the typical round houses. Each block belonged to a family unit. The rounded caves, the silos, where the food is preserved, are well defined since this town was dedicated to agriculture and fishing.

At the end of the first century A.C, this place begins to be profoundly altered, result of the Romanization that will know its peak in the fourth century A.C. when the population begin to occupy areas closer to the river. The constructions, now of Roman type, become more complex: larger houses, built in terraces, adapted to the morphology of the land, with several compartments and warehouses. In the warehouses were kept, among other products, wine, oil and the traditional salted fish preserves of the Romans. On the Miño river´s banks there would be a dock, first natural, and then artificial, which allowed this place to function as a commercial warehouse. The products that arrived here were exported regionally from this dock.

The end of the Roman era turned out to be the end of economic splendour, provided by good trade relations. In the 6th century, the Suevo - Visigoth era began. The remains of that phase have an inferior aesthetic and constructive quality and less durability than the Roman period. This archaeological station is the only one in the country that preserves intact levels from this period.

From the 11th century the place was practically abandoned and it would not be until the 17th century, during the period of the Restoration War, when the fort of Lovelhe was built on top of the mountain. From the castro (traditional Galician military fort) and the adjacent Roman constructions, the stones were used to build the Fort that would reinforce the defence system of the border.

To know it better

In the vicinity of the Rio Minho you can visit Lenta beach. A small fluvial beach with sand and lots of trees. In this space you can enjoy nature in all its splendour, for this, it is necessary that all visitors are careful because it is a natural paradise. The cafeteria, which is located a few meters from the river, is much visited, because after a bike ride it always feels good to hydrate the body.