Ferreira do Zêzere opens new river beach on Castelo do Bode reservoir

The municipality of Ferreira do Zêzere has officially launched its 2026 bathing season with the inauguration of a new river beach on the shores of the Castelo do Bode reservoir, further expanding the area’s growing appeal as a nature and water tourism destination.

The new Bairrada/Bairradinha River Beach opened today (Saturday, June 13) as part of celebrations marking Municipal Day and is being presented by local authorities as another step in a wider strategy to enhance access to the Zêzere River and attract more visitors to the central Portugal municipality.

According to Expresso, the new leisure area includes a support building with recreational and catering facilities, sanitary amenities, a first-aid station and storage areas. The development also features a pedestrian boardwalk linking the facilities to the riverbank, a car park and interpretive signage highlighting local wildlife and plant species.

Located in the villages of Bairrada and Bairradinha, the beach occupies a scenic stretch of the Castelo do Bode reservoir, one of Portugal’s largest inland bodies of water and a popular destination for boating, swimming and outdoor recreation.

The municipality describes the area as a “haven of tranquillity where rural traditions remain intact” and visitors can enjoy unspoilt natural surroundings.

Mayor Bruno Gomes said the project, which was announced last year with an investment of around €600,000, upgrades an area already frequently used for swimming while creating a new tourism asset for the municipality.

“This represents another tourism asset of enormous importance,” Gomes told Expresso, noting that the project forms part of a broader plan to improve facilities around the Castelo do Bode reservoir and support future applications for Blue Flag status.

The mayor highlighted the quality of the local environment as one of Ferreira do Zêzere’s greatest strengths.

“We have some of the cleanest waters in Europe, an exceptional stretch of the Zêzere River and countless opportunities in nature tourism and water-based activities,” he said, pointing to the municipality’s approximately 30 kilometres of riverfront.

The bathing season will run until September 15, with lifeguards on duty throughout the summer to ensure visitor safety.

Preparations for the season were complicated by recent adverse weather events that caused significant damage across the municipality and affected infrastructure near riverfront leisure areas.

“We suffered extensive damage and losses,” Gomes acknowledged, explaining that municipal teams had been working to restore facilities and ensure safe conditions ahead of the summer season.

Following the recent storms, the opening of the new beach is being promoted as a symbol of recovery and resilience, as well as a vote of confidence in the municipality’s tourism sector.

The Bairrada/Bairradinha River Beach joins other popular bathing areas in the municipality, including the well-known Lago Azul River Beach in Castanheira. The council is also preparing a Blue Flag application for Lago Azul next year.

Lago Azul is regarded as one of Ferreira do Zêzere’s flagship tourism attractions, offering accommodation, leisure facilities and the Lago Azul Nautical Club, which includes a marina and fuelling station for boats.

With its extensive riverfront and growing network of leisure areas, Ferreira do Zêzere is continuing to invest in its natural assets as a driver of tourism and economic development, positioning Castelo do Bode as one of central Portugal’s leading inland destinations.