Pereiro Waterfall and Sawmill

Category: Nature > Waterfall

District: Viana do Castelo > Viana do Castelo > Vilar de Murteda > Nogueira, Meixedo e Vilar de Murteda

Location:

Pereiro Waterfall and its associated Sawmill are located in the pleasant village of Vilar de Murteda, part of the municipality of Viana do Castelo. This site is situated near the Pereiro bridge, with the landscape dominated by the course of the Fulão River, which flows through the area and lends it a particular natural and historical beauty.

The Waterfall and the Natural Scenery:

Pereiro Waterfall is a cascade that forms along the course of the Fulão River, presenting itself as a prominent natural feature in the local landscape. The surroundings are characterized by a mixed forest of native deciduous trees, contributing to a tranquil and inviting environment. The presence of dense vegetation and the sound of water create a setting that provides a direct experience with nature.

The Sawmill and the Legacy of Hydraulic Power:

Next to the waterfall, one can observe the old sawmill, a testament to the utilization of the river's hydraulic energy. This structure used the power of the Fulão River's water to operate its mechanisms, enabling the sawing of timber. The sawmill represents an important example of how the local community, until the mid-20th century, knew how to take advantage of natural resources for its productive activities, transforming the landscape with ingenuity and engineering.

Traces of Local History and Economy:

The existence of Pereiro Sawmill is a reflection of a broader tradition of utilizing waterways in Vilar de Murteda. Watercourses with sufficient flow, such as the Fulão River, have historically been essential for powering a variety of grain mills and other mills, including sawmills and linen fulling mills. The very name of the Fulão River has historical roots, referring to the ancient "fulões" or "pisões" (fulling mills), which were mills used to beat and strengthen fabrics, particularly wool, illustrating the richness of the region's industrial and ethnographic heritage.

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