Tour in the Companhia das Lezírias

We visited Companhia das Lezírias and were amazed with the amount of activities we could do so close to Lisbon!

At the invitation of Vila Franca de Xira City Council, experitour.com visited the Companhia das Lezírias.

C.M.V.F.X organized a day filled with good times for a group of tour operators with the aim of publicizing the various attractions that the county offers.

The event occurred on June 8, 2017. It began by taking us from one bank to the other of the Tagus River on the boat of C.M.V.F.X., The Varino. It was a quick crossing but gave us the pleasure of sailing in the river and imagining how delightful it would be to take a leisurely tour on a weekend.

Varino Boat
Varino Boat

The purpose was to take us to the bus that waited for us on the other bank and that would transport us through the vast rice fields of the wetland to the first point of interest, the EVOA (Visitation Space and Bird Watching) located in the Tagus Estuary Natural Reserve.

Surprisingly, that wooden building of modern architecture, situated in the middle of the weeds, hides some surprises that we were not expecting.

Arrival to EVOA
Arrival to EVOA

In a very well organized way, the visitor goes through panels with photographs and graphics, displaying the grandeur and biological diversity of the surrounding space.

Eng. Rui began by giving a presentation accompanied by explanatory slides about the Companhia das Lezírias as well as the EVOA itself. I swear that I was surprised by the amount of information that it passed to the visitors of the litter. Just let yourself be enveloped by the explanations of that technician who is deeply acquainted with the matter presented to us. It is worth listening to you to him to know more about everything that CL allows us to enjoy.

Presentation about the Companhia das Lezírias
Presentation about the Companhia das Lezírias

I did not know and was positively surprised by the work done there to contribute in a very balanced way so that the resident or migratory birds have the ideal conditions to make that space an obligatory point in the crucial moments of their lives.

The work done there allows the visitor to observe hundreds of species in a concentration that is difficult to obtain elsewhere.

At the observation points strategically placed on the banks of the artificial lakes deftly designed to look absolutely natural, we can observe, with the help of an enthusiastic young forest engineer, who focuses there on ornithology, a wide range of birds. It is very pleasant to see so much life skipping around us and in the sky.

Bird watching
Bird watching

For nature lovers and especially for bird watchers in their natural habitat, the EVOA is an excellent choice to spend a day in a different way. The only problem is that there the time flies!

From there we went to the Adega do Catapereiro.

Located in the middle of the vineyard, with its own vineyards, it produces wines under the technical control of winemaker Bernardo Cabral, which are true nectars.

The wine tasting provided to us , accompanied by bread with olive oil produced on the property as well, it was a good start for us to be interested in participating in a vintage experience already next season.

Adega do catapereiro
Adega do catapereiro

In addition to producing excellent wines, free of preservatives or other additives, CL gives interested parties the opportunity to actively participate in a day-to-day experience where you can harvest, tread the grape, taste the must, meet the winery, learn about fermentation methods and more. Being in September, a holiday month for a lot of people, it seems like an excellent idea to complete the birdwatching weekend.

Anyone interested in vindimas you can book your experience through this site .

Just thinking about the regional gastronomic flavors you can taste, it gives me water-in-mouth.

There was, however, a peculiarity that struck me:

Even in the packaging for the bottle of wine whose brand honors a resident bird, Tyto Alba or owl of the towers, embraces the philosophy of CL.

Chapim bird
Chapim bird

In a wooden box was made a round opening through which you can see the eyes of the owl, which are part of the label of the bottle. It was very original and even snatched a design award. But the most interesting is that the said box is prepared to serve as a nest for the Chapim, the bird that feeds on the pine caterpillar.

Thus, they contribute to increase the awareness of those who buy the wine to contribute in an ecological way for the preservation of a bird that helps in the combat to that unwanted and harmful caterpillar.

These are details, but it is in the details that one does the great things for life!

Box of wine that serves as nest for Chapim
Box of wine that serves as nest for Chapim

We ended our visit at a lunch full of regional flavors, which made me eat like I had not done for a long time. Each dish was better than the other (and I am weird in regards to the quality of the food). I think I tried the dishes and most of the delicacies. I was busting!

It was worth the time we were given to see the facilities of the lusitanos horses, raised in the company and to visit the bungalows strategically placed around a swimming pool. It was during this time that we exchanged cards and hoped that some of those tour operators would create programs to take people there who like the nature and tranquility that the countryside allows.

Swimming pool in wooden bungalows
Swimming pool in wooden bungalows

For my part, I am already contributing to the fact that, with this simple text, some people are tempted to turn their backs to the beach, the television or the museums, for a few days and get caught up in what nature can give us, here so near Lisbon.

Get your family together, take your children to see the birds, the horses, the bulls, the corms, the vineyards, the rice fields, the plain and everything else the Company of the Lezírias has to offer!

The infrastructure exists, the path is good, the distance is short, the options are sufficient. What are you waiting for?

I wish you a great weekend!

Post written by Letícia Melo.

Hi there, I'm Leticia! Living in Portugal since 2017, I'm a Brazilian writer passionate about traveling, discovering new cultures, beaches and music! Let's share our best experiences!

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