Category: Civil Architecture > Watermill
District: Faro > Albufeira > Paderne
The watermill stands at the foot of Paderne Castle, in the parish of Paderne, municipality of Albufeira. It is located next to the old stream, on a gently sloping terrain, where cultivated land alternates with areas of spontaneous vegetation.
Access is via a pedestrian path that passes through an olive grove and small gardens, providing a close perspective of the typical rural Algarve Barrocal landscape.
This milling engine uses water power to move the millstones and is believed to predate windmills, possibly dating back to the Islamic period. As early as 1504, in the charter granted by D. Manuel I, there are references to similar milling systems, attesting to the importance of these structures in the life of local communities.
The watermill retains traces of the original mechanism, at least part of the tank and the feeding channel, and bears witness to the evolution of traditional water utilization techniques for cereal processing.
Even when the stream dries up in the warmer months, the space retains a tranquil atmosphere, highlighted by aromatic herbs and small shrubs that grow among the stones. During periods of flow, a mirror of water forms next to the tank, attracting visitors seeking serene scenery.
On the banks, it is common to spot water birds and some ducks that inhabit the area, especially after the autumnal rains. The slightly degraded architectural complex lends a rustic charm capable of transporting the visitor back to the times when milling was done manually.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.15723834283298,-8.202044475889439
Coordinates DMS: 37°09'26.1"N 08°12'7.4"W
Weather Paderne
On-duty Pharmacy Paderne
