Foz do Douro

Foz do Douro is the district of Porto where the Douro River meets the Atlantic Ocean, part of the parish of Aldoar, Foz do Douro e Nevogilde. Two forts, a lighthouse on the river jetty and a line of small beaches mark the coast from the river mouth north to the Castelo do Queijo.

Houses of the 19th century face the sea along the avenues between the two forts.

Beaches in Foz do Douro

The beaches of Porto lie along this coast, between the river mouth and the Castelo do Queijo.

Monuments in Foz do Douro

• Fort of São João Baptista da Foz: a bastioned fort at the mouth of the Douro, first designed by Simão de Ruão in the 16th century and redesigned by Charles Lassart after 1640. It was built around a church and residence that the bishop Dom Miguel da Silva had commissioned from the Italian architect Francesco de Cremona.
• Felgueiras Lighthouse: a 10-metre stone lighthouse at the end of the river jetty, built in 1886 and switched off in 2009.
• Castelo do Queijo: the Fort of São Francisco Xavier, built on a granite rock whose shape gave the fort its popular name, the Cheese Castle.

Nature and leisure in Foz do Douro

• Jardim do Passeio Alegre: a garden with palm trees and old trees next to the river mouth.
• Seafront avenues: Avenida do Brasil and Avenida de Montevideu run along the coast, with a promenade and a cycle path.

History of Foz do Douro

• 16th century: Dom Miguel da Silva, bishop of Viseu, builds a church and residence at the river mouth, later enclosed by the fort.
• After 1640: the fort of São João Baptista is redesigned with new defences.
• 1790: work begins on a jetty on the right bank of the river, to reduce the danger of the silted river bar.
• 1886: the Felgueiras Lighthouse is built at the end of the jetty.
• 2009: the Felgueiras Lighthouse is switched off.

Places to visit in Porto

Porto, Portugal

Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Serra do Pilar

Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Serra do Pilar

Palácio da Bolsa

Palácio da Bolsa

Livraria Lello

Livraria Lello

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Foz do Douro

Clérigos Church and Tower

Clérigos Church and Tower

Church of São Francisco

Church of São Francisco

São Bento Station

São Bento Station

Porto Cathedral

Porto Cathedral

Serralves

Casa da Música

Casa da Música

Bolhão Market

Bolhão Market

History of Porto

History of Porto

Visiting Porto

Visiting Porto