Cycling Museum

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Museum

District: Leiria > Caldas da Rainha > Caldas da Rainha > Avenal

Location

The Cycling Museum is located in Caldas da Rainha, on Rua de Camões. This location places the museum directly opposite D. Carlos I Park, one of the city's main green spaces, and in the vicinity of the Thermal Hospital. Rua de Camões is recognized as one of the city's first streets to receive a proper name, situating the museum within an urban context rich in history.

The Origin of a Collection

Inaugurated on December 14, 1999, the Cycling Museum resulted from a project driven by a passion for the sport of two wheels. The core of its collection originates from a private collection assembled over several years by Mário Lino, a recognized figure in the local cycling community. Today, the museum is managed by an association comprising the Caldas da Rainha City Council, the Portuguese Cycling Federation, and Sporting Clube das Caldas, ensuring its continuity and development.

The Collection and the History of Portuguese Cycling

The Cycling Museum presents a collection dedicated to the history of cycling in Portugal. Visitors can observe a collection that includes old bicycles, competition equipment, and extensive documentation, such as photographs and historical records.

This collection allows tracing the evolution of the sport in the country, highlighting emblematic moments and figures. Among the exhibited pieces are unique documents related to the Cycloclub Caldense from 1901, the pioneering Porto-Lisbon race of 1911, and the first editions of the Volta a Portugal (Tour of Portugal), held between 1927 and 1934.

A Building with Character

Housing the museum's collection, the building where it is located has its own architectural interest. It features characteristics associated with the Art Nouveau style, common in other constructions in Caldas da Rainha, providing a distinct setting for the exhibition.