Praia Fluvial do Patacão, River beach in Alpiarça, Portugal
Praia Fluvial do Patacão is a river beach along the Tejo banks with wide sandy areas shaded by tall willow trees. The site has picnic zones, restroom facilities, and parking areas for visitors.
The beach sits near a former fishing village established in 1950 by fishermen from Vieira de Leiria. These settlers built houses on stilts to adapt to the river conditions.
The name Patacão comes from a local river fish that shaped community identity for generations. You can sense the people's deep connection to the water in how they use and value this riverside place.
The beach is best visited during warm weather, as facilities are seasonally available. Arriving early in the day helps you secure a good parking spot and avoid crowds.
Abandoned wooden stilt houses still stand near the beach as silent witnesses to a fishing community's past. Some structures have partially collapsed, yet their remains reflect the resourcefulness of earlier inhabitants.
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