Praia Fluvial do Penedo Furado, River beach in Vila de Rei, Portugal
Praia Fluvial do Penedo Furado is a river beach in Vila de Rei, central Portugal, set at the point where the Codes stream meets the Zêzere River. The shore is lined with rocky outcrops, and pine trees grow along both banks.
The area changed in the 1950s when the Castelo Bode dam was built, flooding large parts of the Zêzere valley and turning the river into a wide reservoir. This is why the water at this spot feels more like a lake than a fast-moving river.
The name Penedo Furado means "pierced rock" in Portuguese, referring to the natural holes and passages worn into the stone along the shore. Visitors can spot these formations directly from the water or while walking the nearby paths.
The beach has a bar, picnic area, playground, and public restrooms, and lifeguards are on duty during summer. Arriving early on hot weekends is a good idea, as the parking area fills up quickly.
A fossil called Bicha Pintada, around 480 million years old, was found near the beach and points to a geological past that goes far beyond the river valley itself. Visitors who take the circular trail from the beach can also pass through rocky passages and reach viewpoints above the cliffs of Fragas do Rabadão.
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