Oliveira do Mouchão

Category: Nature > Olive Tree

District: Santarém > Abrantes > Cascalhos > Mouriscas

Location

The Mouchão Olive Tree is located in Cascalhos, part of the parish of Mouriscas, in the municipality of Abrantes. This site is situated in a rural setting, inviting moments of tranquility and contact with nature. The tree is approximately one kilometer from the Tagus River, a central element in the region's landscape and history. It is also a passing point for those traversing the Route of the Arcês, Rio Frio, and Tagus Streams (GR55), a trail for exploring the area on foot.

A Millennial Witness

This olive tree is one of the oldest arboreal specimens in Portugal. Its impressive age, estimated at 3350 years, was certified in 2016 through a non-destructive dating method, which revealed its remarkable antiquity. This means that the Mouchão Olive Tree already existed in remote eras, such as those of the Phoenicians and Romans, having been a silent witness to centuries of history.

In 2007, the tree was officially classified as a Tree of Public Interest, a recognition that underlines its natural, historical, and cultural value, safeguarding it as a living heritage.

Its Characteristics and Recovery

The Mouchão Olive Tree captivates with its size and robustness. It reaches almost eight meters in height, but it is its trunk that stands out the most, with a perimeter at the base of 11.2 meters and about 6.5 meters at chest height. It is a unique specimen, with a hollow trunk, a common characteristic in such ancient trees.

Currently, the olive tree is protected by a wall, with fertile soil covering its roots. This intervention was fundamental for its recovery, given that at one time its roots were exposed and the hollow space of the trunk was even used as a shelter. Despite its advanced age, the tree remains vital and continues to produce olives, both of the Galega variety and wild ones.

The Legend of the Name

The name "Oliveira do Mouchão" reflects a deep connection to local traditions and life along the Tagus River. Popular narrative tells that, at the beginning of the 20th century, this olive tree was a meeting point for fishermen. They gathered here before heading to the river to fish for "mouchão," a specific fishing technique or location. The fact that it was a waiting and socializing point, especially for reaching the "Mouchão fishing spot" which was considered the best, led the tree to adopt this name, perpetuating the memory of the riverside communities.

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