Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Évora > Mourão > Luz > Herdade dos Pássaros
Monte dos Pássaros is located in the village of Luz, in the municipality of Mourão, integrated into Herdade dos Pássaros. It is situated on the shore of the vast Alqueva lake, forming part of the landscape that embraces the new village of Luz. Its position is striking, as it constitutes one of the elements framing the ensemble of the church, museum, and cemetery, standing out at the transition between the inhabited area and the reservoir's vast expanse of water.
In Alentejo, the designation "monte" traditionally refers to an agricultural exploitation unit, with a structure aimed at self-sufficiency. These rural complexes included the house of the owner or tenant farmer, facilities for workers, and for artisans who ensured the property's operation. The montes were composed of various essential spaces for daily life and agricultural activities: areas for livestock, barns, bread ovens, and places for storing tools and harvested products. Monte dos Pássaros represents this typology, offering a perspective on the organization and rural life that shaped the region.
Monte dos Pássaros holds particular significance in the history of the village of Luz. It was one of the last "montes" visible on the way to the old settlement, before the construction of the Alqueva Dam. With the submersion of much of the original landscape, this monte managed to remain, becoming a physical and symbolic link to the past. During the complex process of relocating the village, Monte dos Pássaros served as a crucial space for the rescue, restoration, and provisional safekeeping of a vast collection of ethnographic pieces that today comprise the collection of the Museum of Luz. Its existence and recovery reflect the resilience and continuity of local identity, in the face of a profound transformation of the territory.
Currently, Monte dos Pássaros has undergone careful rehabilitation, with the purpose of showcasing rural life from times past. It is possible to observe recovered original architectural elements, such as the traditional kitchen, the large chimney, the ovens, and the mangers that once served the animals. This site is integrated as an extension of the Museum of Luz, also functioning as an ethnographic reserve where part of the museum's collection is visible to the public. More than an exhibition space, Monte dos Pássaros is designed to host events and gatherings, encouraging the maintenance of community traditions and the sharing of Luz's culture, establishing a living bridge between its historical legacy and the daily life of the village.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.3449175,-7.3832549
Coordinates DMS: 38°20'41.7"N 07°22'59.7"W
Weather Luz
On-duty Pharmacy Luz
