São Bento da Caniçada Inn

District: Braga > Vieira do Minho > Caniçada

Location:

The Pousada de São Bento da Caniçada is located in the town of Caniçada, part of the Union of Parishes of Caniçada and Soengas, municipality of Vieira do Minho, district of Braga. It is situated on the banks of the Caniçada Dam reservoir, next to the Cávado River, in a setting characterized by gentle mountains and indigenous vegetation.

This location is part of the peripheral zone of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, offering visitors direct contact with transitional landscapes between calm water areas and wooded slopes.

Origin and Architecture:

Erected between the mid-fifties and the early seventies, this building belongs to the 'Dams' series, designed to promote tourism in more remote areas, in conjunction with the Hydraulic Infrastructure Development Plan. The construction exhibits functional modernism, with simple geometric volumes and extensive glazed surfaces.

Its unpretentious lines and absence of flashy ornaments reflect a concern for creating a space integrated into its surroundings, valuing natural light and views over the water's surface.

Environment and Landscape:

The surroundings feature typical mid-mountain vegetation, where oaks and alders coexist with scrubland and crystal-clear water channels. Biodiversity includes various species of aquatic birds that use the reservoir's inlets for feeding and resting.

From the elevated position of the building, visitors can appreciate the contrast between the intense green of the banks and the deep blue of the reservoir, especially at dusk, when reflections on the water create a play of light and color that enhances the serene character of this space.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt