Located on the right bank of the Sor River, Ponte de Sor is a destination for outdoor activities. This includes the Montargil Dam area, which is popular for water sports, and the Literary Route dedicated to Portuguese author José Luís Peixoto in Galveias.

With its foundations dating back to Roman times when it was located on the road that connected Mérida (Emerita Augusta) to Lisbon (Olissipo), it has remained a place of passage over the centuries. In fact, the city continues to be important as a stopping point for those travelling through the country from north to south, as it is located at km 435 of Estrada Nacional 2, between Chaves and Faro - the perfect itinerary to discover the rich diversity on offer in Portugal.

Arts and Culture Centre ©C.M. Ponte de Sor

Visit the Arts and Culture Centre, a multidisciplinary space dedicated to the visual and performing arts, where visitors can take in the largest cork mosaic in the world. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records in 2014, it was created by Albanian artist Saimir Strati, who artistically promotes one of the most important industries in the municipality: cork. The Centre also includes an Industrial Archaeology Centre that preserves the memory of the building itself: a former cereal milling and rice husking factory.

Riverfront Park ©C.M. Ponte de Sor

Keep an eye out for pieces on the Urban Art Route sure to surprise you, and take a stroll through the Riverfront Park, where you will also find a tennis court, swimming pools, and a skate park.

Several rotating water mills were once located along the banks of the River Sor, complemented by the Windmill in the parish of Foros de Arrão, which can be visited to this day. Also worth mentioning are the nearby Hermitage of Our Lady of Pleasures, which is framed by a landscape of cork and holm oaks that is very pleasant and characteristic of the region. 

Centro de Interpretação José Luís Peixoto ©C.M. Ponte de Sor

Galveias
On the left bank of the River Sor lies the town of Galveias, where the 18th-century Church of Mercy, which is classified as a Property of Public Interest, and the José Luís Peixoto Interpretation Centre, located in an old manor house and dedicated to the Portuguese writer, are worth a mention. The latter marks the start or end point of the José Luís Peixoto Literary Route, which is made up of 22 points of interest that take visitors on a journey of discovery of the author's writing and the region.

Hot air ballooning at the Montargil Dam ©Flydreams

Montargil
The municipality's greatest attraction is the Montargil Dam, which is nestled into a landscape of cork oak forests, and its Nautical Centre. This large leisure space, which has its own river beach, picnic area, and a viewpoint over the reservoir, provides opportunities for sailing, wakeboarding, canoeing, jet skiing, hiking, and bird watching. And what better way to take in the tranquility of Alentejo and the beauty of the landscape than with a hot air balloon ride through the blue skies?

The cultural heritage of the small village of Montargil is notable, including the 16th- and 18th-century Mother Church, the 1st-2nd century Roman Necropolis of Santo André, and the Montargil Megalithic Nucleus, in which around 40 tombs were identified.

©C.M. Ponte de Sor

The Ponte de Sor City Festivities take place in early July and provide an opportunity to enjoy specialities made with local products, such as Asparagus “Migas” (crumbled bread cooked in pork fat), shark soup served over rustic bread, kid stew served over rustic bread, lamb stew and “cachola” (pork liver) soup.