Giant waves on the edge. The biggest waves in the world

Africa

Thinking about surfing and waves, the image of Australia involuntarily pops up in my mind. But, as it turned out, even the inhabitants of this country enviously go in search of the biggest ones, not even - huge waves in a small town in Portugal At dawn .

My husband and I are avid travelers, and when planning a trip to Portugal, we could not deprive this place of attention, despite the fact that we have nothing to do with surfing, except, perhaps, contemplation with admiration;)

So, in November 2011. American Garrett McNamara conquered a wave of 30 meters here, thereby beating Guinness record.

Giant waves form right in front of The lighthouse of Forte de são Miguel Arcanjo, located in the northern part of the city.

Behind him is one of the most beautiful beaches countries and the world - North Beach At dawn.

It offers inspiring views from the path leading to the lighthouse.

A visit to the Lighthouse is worth it 1€ . For this amount, amazing views of the ocean, surfers from various competitions, as well as a hall with explanations of such a natural element open up.

It's all about the ocean day - Canyon Nazare , extending perpendicularly for 170 km from the coast. The most deep point of this gorge is 5 km, but towards the shore it rapidly decreases, forming a kind of springboard for giant waves. In addition, there is a strong undercurrent that enhances the effect of killer waves, as the locals call them.

Waves reach their maximum power in the autumn-winter period. If there is a goal to contemplate this riot of elements with a person, then you need to look at the schedule of competitions on surf sites and go here on these dates.

In one of the halls of the Lighthouse you can see Video of conquering the wave and interviews with surfers.

But most dangerous view, and at the same time the ocean breeze, even in calm weather they open with sheer cliff before beacon .

You can get to the Lighthouse using Ski lift connecting both parts of the city.

or by bus, car. By the way, car rental in Portugal is relatively cheap compared to the rest of Europe. The roads are mostly of decent quality, as well as a paid autobahn.

The beginning of the walking path to the Natural Element is marked by an arch.

Myself town of Nazare, as I noted earlier, is located on two levels: upper - the first settlements in these places Sitio where is the attraction located? Black Madonna.

And lower - with a beautiful promenade, beach and cozy hotels right along the coastline.

View from the top

Located right on the beach Museum drying-drying of ocean inhabitants. Here you can also buy them.

southern part the beach is also equipped with lighthouses and it is a pleasure to walk here

Being in Nazar you just need to enjoy the ocean! In the off-season, privacy is felt, only gulls and albatrosses occasionally add sound to the ocean ...

We rented an apartment for 4 days ( Apartamentos 7 Saias Marginal) on the first line with a kitchen and a terrace with a grill (in upper city store located Continente with a huge selection of ocean inhabitants, which makes it possible to arrange an excellent home-cooked dinner) - all this is quite budget-friendly off-peak season!

When planning a stop at these hotels in the cool months of the year, I advise you to grab warm clothes with myself! The heating can't handle the ocean breeze at night. The rooms are often very cold.

About weather in general, in December-January, the southern and central parts of the country are quite warm, +17 during the day, the northern part is cooler. There are cold spells at night. The Atlantic is quite changeable: 2 weeks of cloudless skies with a warm sun can be replaced in a couple of minutes by heavy rain and hail! And after a couple of minutes it's warm again... Therefore, an obligatory attribute is an umbrella! But not easy! And fortified! Broken knitting needles and even handles are not uncommon here! The wind is such that the story of Mary Popins takes on a new meaning;)

Despite the high readings of the wind thermometer, it is rather dank, cloudy days too much humidity. A waterproof jacket and warm sweaters underneath are required.

For 2 weeks, the Atlantic showed us all kinds of oceans - the complete absence of waves and the summer sun, storm, hail, torrential rain like a wall, sandstorms that filled up even cafes, a hurricane on mountain tops blocking the entrance to Castles, broken trees on the roads ... and that's it it's in December!

Immediately after our departure, the heat reigned +20 for a week!

So talking about the season - it is difficult to advise a month! The coast of Portugal is always great for Tusim!

Of course, for a beach holiday, these are only the summer months, but they can also surprise with a storm or heavy rains.

The main thing is to observe safety measures! The element here is felt to the maximum. It is here that you feel like a grain of sand and all thoughts and problems fade away!

Great place to reset, reset!

As for the restaurants that open twice a day in this country - at lunchtime and at 19:00, here we found an absolute gem - Restaurant Aki del Mar, and part-time and the Firm for the extraction of ocean delicacies. Low prices, great service! There are no fish and deep-sea inhabitants here, but the huge selection of all kinds of reptiles is impressive.

Everyone knows that Portugal is the motherland port wine ! But besides it, they also produce Wine Verde - green wine, light, slightly sparkling - I advise all lovers of not heavy drinks.

Port wine tasting is usually carried out in Porto, but you can also find sets of mini bottles in ordinary stores and understand which one is closer to your taste.

In addition to ocean products, desserts are popular in Portugal - pastiche - Lisbon, Ginya - cherry tincture in a chocolate glass, Francenzinha - Huge sandwich. And this is a small part of the required testing;)

With regards to souvenirs, gifts- be sure to check out cork products ! What are they doing with it! You can wear it all the way! Pens, caps, shoes, bags and even umbrellas!

And in the capital of Lisbon, real masterpieces are applied to it - paintings by Frida, Adele ...

Good cork dressing is on a par with leather, but it's worth it! The sneakers purchased there went through all the hardships of the weather with me and fully justified their price and hopes;)

If you are planning to visit the central part of the country, then you cannot pass by the Ceramic Factory in the city. Caldas da Rainha. Dishes just flips the perception!

Summing up, I can note that the location of this town allows you to make trips from it to MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF PORTUGAL, such as the:

Temple Alcobaça - the sad and horrifying story of Pedro and Ines - the coronation of a queen with a severed head,

City of brides - Obidos,

The last refuge of the Templars - Tomar

Batalha - huge cathedral in honor of victories

Village bairro- and dinosaur footprints

Mira de Aire and Cave of the 7 Wonders of Portugal

Religious Center in Fatima,

University city of Coimbra,

city of delightfully unusual dishes Caldas da Rainha

I also advise Lock Ourem in the town of the same name.

Not close but a must visit is Porto and Aveiro- a small venice and a center for the extraction of ocean salt.

Moving towards the capital visit Cape Roca - the westernmost point of Europe, Azenhas do Mar- natural ocean basin.

Will we return again? By all means!!! The Atlantic Ocean is an unforgettable sight, a pearl and just an inspiration of Portugal! The history of this once powerful country, great discoveries and courageous people still excites our hearts!

The small fishing village of Nazare (Portugal) is located between the most beautiful cities Lisbon and Porto. Among other Portuguese outskirts, it is distinguished by two important circumstances: the first is the patroness of the village locals they consider the Virgin Mary, the second - they come to Nazar. There is no winter here, so this place can be visited all year round.

Resort Nazare

This old fishing village is the main one in Portugal. Its inhabitants sacredly keep ancient traditions: they dress according to the old fashion and sing folk songs. On this ocean coast, you can witness how fishing families lived many years ago. Nazaré women still wear seven skirts each, and the main occupation of fishermen and fisherwomen on the shore is repairing nets and drying fish on special wire grills.

At the same time, Nazare is considered the most famous among the sea. Incredibly beautiful and clean beach stretched for a distance of 1 km. Along it is equipped with an embankment. There are all conditions for a comfortable and memorable stay.

The town of Nazare (Portugal) is divided into two parts: upper and lower. The lower part is a picturesque promenade, a beach and many cozy restaurants where guests are offered meals. national cuisine. There is also an abundance of souvenir shops where tourists can buy gifts for their loved ones. By the way, souvenirs here are much cheaper than in the upper part of the city. The main attractions are located in the upper part of the village.

What to watch?

So, what are there in Nazar? There are not as many of them as lovers of excursions would like, but still there is something to see. The main architectural monument here is the small chapel of Capela da Memória. It was built in honor of the Virgin Mary, whom the locals consider their patroness. Pilgrims from all over Europe visit the chapel all year round. Opposite the chapel is the Church of Our Lady, built at the end of the 14th century.

The town has several museums where you can get acquainted with the history of Nazaré, the history of fishing and the national costume. In the museum dedicated to religion, you can see paintings, statues and some historical documents. The main museum of the town is the Fisherman's House. There are all the attributes of fishing and home life of fishermen.

Fort Sau Miguel Arcanjo is also of interest to tourists. It was erected at the end of the 16th century in order to protect the city from attacks by Algerians and pirates. You can enjoy picturesque views from the Cityu cliff. For this, a spacious observation deck is equipped here. Tourists can get to the rock on a modernized funicular, this means of transportation in Nazar is considered the most famous. The height of the rock is 318 meters, from here an amazing view of the lower part of Nazare opens .

Surfing

The unique Nazare Canyon (Portugal) stretches along the coast for 170 km. The waves here can reach a height of 30 meters. Surfers from all over the world come to this small village to take part in the annual world competitions. Waves that break from deep Atlantic Ocean, can easily swallow a surfer at the slightest mistake. But this does not stop the athletes. In 2013, Garrett McNamara (Hawaiian surfer) set a world record: he conquered a wave over 30 meters.

How to get there

Nazare (Portugal) is located in the district of Leiria. You can get here from Lisbon or Porto by regular bus. A bus ticket costs about 12 euros - this is the cheapest option to get to the fishing village. The bus stops at Nazare station, which is a short walk from the city's main promenade and from the Atlantic Ocean.

Why in Nazar the most big waves in the world? July 15th, 2017

There is a place in the world from which photo and video reports about giant waves are often taken. For the past few years, records in Big Wave surfing for the largest wave taken (both by hand and with the help of a jet) have been set on the same Nazaré wave. The first such record was set by Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara in 2011 - the wave height was 24 meters. Then, in 2013, he broke his record by riding a wave 30 meters high.

Why exactly in this place are the biggest waves in the world?

Let's first recall the mechanism of wave formation:

So, it all starts far, far away in the ocean, where strong winds blow and storms rage. As we know from the school geography course, the wind blows from an area with high pressure to an area of low pressure. In the ocean, these areas are separated by many kilometers, so the wind blows over a very large area of the ocean, transferring some of its energy to the water through friction. Where it happens, the ocean is more like a bubbling soup - have you ever seen a storm at sea? It's about the same there, only the scale is larger. There are small and large waves, all mixed up, superimposed on each other. However, the energy of water also does not stand still, but moves in a certain direction.

Due to the fact that the ocean is very, very large, and waves of different sizes move at different speeds, during the time that all this seething porridge reaches the shore, it is “sifted”, some small waves add up with others into large ones, others, on the contrary, mutually are destroyed. As a result, what is called Groung Swell comes to the shore - smooth ridges of waves, divided into sets from three to nine with large intervals of calm between them.

However, not every swell is destined to become surfing waves. Although, it is more correct to say - not everywhere. In order for a wave to be caught, it must break in a certain way. Wave formation for surfing depends on the structure of the bottom in the coastal zone. The ocean is very deep, so the mass of water moves evenly, but as it approaches the coast, the depth begins to decrease, and the water that moves closer to the bottom, for lack of another way out, begins to rise to the surface, thereby raising waves. In the place where the depth, or rather the shallowness, reaches a critical value, the rising wave can no longer become larger and collapses. The place where this happens is called the lineup, and that's where the surfers sit, waiting for the right wave.

The shape of the wave directly depends on the shape of the bottom: the sharper it becomes shallow, the sharper the wave. Usually the sharpest and even trumpeting waves are born where the height difference is almost instantaneous, for example, at the bottom of a huge stone or the beginning of a reef plateau.

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Where the drop is gradual and the bottom is sandy, the waves are gentler and slower. It is these waves that are best suited for learning to surf, so all surf schools conduct the first lessons for beginners on sandy beaches.

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Of course, there are other factors that affect the waves, for example, the same wind: it can improve or worsen the quality of the waves depending on the direction. In addition, there are so-called wind swells, these are waves that do not have time to “sift” with distance, since the storm rages not so far from the coast.

So, now about the highest waves. Thanks to the winds, huge energy is accumulated, which then moves towards the coast. As it approaches the coast, the oceanic swell transforms into waves, but unlike other places on our planet, a surprise awaits it off the coast of Portugal.

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The thing is that it is in the area of the city of Nazare that the seabed is a huge canyon with a depth of 5000 meters and a length of 230 kilometers. This means that the oceanic swell does not undergo changes, but reaches, as it is, to the very continent, collapsing on the coastal rocks with all its might. Wave height is usually measured as the distance from the crest to the base (where, by the way, something like a trough is often sucked in, which increases the height compared to if measured by mean sea level at a given tide height).

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However, unlike such waves as Mavericks or Teahupu, on Nazar the ridge, even if it collapses, never hangs over the base, moreover, it is separated from the bottom by about 40 meters along the horizontal axis. Due to spatial perspective distortion, when viewed from the front, we see a water block of 30 meters, technically, it is even larger, but this is not a wave height. That is, strictly speaking, Nazaré is not a wave, but a water mountain, a pure oceanic swell, powerful and unpredictable.

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However, the fact that Nazaré is not exactly a wave does not make this spot any less scary and dangerous. Garrett McNamara says that Nazar is incredibly difficult to pass. Usually three people help him in the water: one pulls him out on a jet to the lineup, accelerates him into a wave and does not swim far to make sure that everything is in order with the surfer. He is backed up by a second jet, as well as a third one a little further away, whose driver is watching all three. Also, Garrett's wife is standing on a rock near the lighthouse and tells him on the radio which waves are coming and which one can be taken. On the day he set his second record, not everything went smoothly. The first driver was knocked off the jet by a wave, so the second had to pull Garrett out of the foam, and the third hurried to help the first. Everything was done clearly and quickly, so no one was hurt.

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Garrett himself says the following: “Of course, all these safety nets and technical devices in surfing on big waves are a kind of cheating. And in principle, you can do without them, but in this case, the chances of dying are much higher. As for me personally, since I had a wife and children, I feel more responsibility for them and fear for my life, so I go to all technical tricks in order to most likely return home alive. ”

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sources

For the ears of advanced surfers, Nazaré sounds like a heavenly song: what is there, they are ready to offer prayers to this tiny village, located an hour's drive from Lisbon. Why is a simple secret. It is here, in this ancient village, which was founded in 1514, that giant waves which only the most courageous can comprehend. 30 meters of raging and roaring moisture, which breaks from the bowels of the Atlantic to the rugged sea coast of Nazare - this is the element that only the strongest surfers in the world want to compete with. And, I must say, they often succeed. All the rest just stand with their mouths open, and quietly whisper to themselves "and where it takes you, wretched one."

In all other respects, Nazare is a typical Portuguese village. Incredibly cozy, colorful, with a luxurious long beach framed by mastodon rocks, ancient sights and charming fish restaurants.

How to get there

Nazare is located in the district of Leiria, about an hour from the capital of Portugal and two hours from the beautiful Porto. It is easy to get here by car along the A8 highway. All "carless" can be recommended to take an express bus that arrives at the Nazaré bus station, which is in the very center of the city. The third option is the train. From Lisbon they leave several times a day, you need to get off in the town of Valado de Frades, which is located 6 km from the village. Next - by taxi or local buses Rodoviaria do Tejo.

In addition, Nazare is often chosen as a snack point during sightseeing trips along the so-called "Golden Ring" of Portugal (the same one that includes Sintra, Alcobaça, Batalha and other cities). And the reasons for this choice are simple - the place is colorful, and local fish restaurants are rated by guests as "amazing", and the ocean views from them - God forbid.

4 things to do in Nazaré

Take the old funicular up to Cityu.
Visit one of the local fish restaurants.
Gaze at the crazy surfers that cut the Atlantic Ocean with boards ( the best views- winter and off-season).
Arrange a romantic evening on the beach with a bottle of port wine and a turner-style sunset.

Transport

The “heels” of the city are licked by the Atlantic Ocean, but the “heart” of Nazare is located quite high - on the steep hill of Sitio, where you can climb on foot, but better (and more interesting) - by funicular. This is the most convenient means of transportation in the city, which was opened as early as 1889. Since then, it has broken down several times (not without casualties, alas), stood idle for five years, then it was electrified and re-launched to the delight of tourists and locals. The length of the funicular is 318 m, the journey takes about 3 minutes, the fare is about 2.5 EUR.

Prices on the page are for September 2018.

The "heels" of the city are licked by the Atlantic Ocean, but the "heart" of Nazare is located quite high - on the steep hill of Cityu.

Popular hotels in Nazare

Attractions and attractions Nazare

As mentioned above, the "heart" of Nazaré lies on Cape Sítio, which is easily recognizable from postcards that are sold throughout Portugal. This is another " business card» countries of port wine. In a word, the views that open from here do about the same with your breath as with a crow a piece of cheese.

A sheer cliff 318 m high, in addition to panoramas, is famous for the chapel of Ermida da Memoria (Ermida da Memória), which was built in honor of the miracle created by the Blessed Virgin - the rescue of the fidalgo horse Don Fuash Roupinho. Believe the legend or not - you be the judge, but the locals will be happy to show on the observation deck of Miradouro do Suberco the mark that the horse allegedly left with his horseshoe on a foggy morning in 1182, almost knocking himself and the king down during the hunt to the abyss.

In addition, the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Nazare of the 17th century and the Museum of Joaquim Manso (Museu Dr. Joaquim Manso) attract attention here. Another important attraction of Nazare, which is located at the far end of the cape, has been around for five centuries - this is the fort of Sau Miguel Arcanjo built in 1577. The fortress was built by order of King Sebastian to protect against possible attacks by pirates. Later, the fort became famous for the brave gang of Portuguese peasants who, with pitchforks at the ready, drove out the army of the short French emperor during the occupation of Portugal by Napoleon's army.

Finally, if there is time, it is worth looking into the local Ethnographic and Archaeological Museum(the best stand is with the history of the national costume), the Museum of Religious Arts (in the right wing of the main temple of the city) and the fisherman's house-museum (boats, interiors of fishermen's dwellings, tackle and catch).

Local residents will be happy to show on the observation deck of Miradouro do Suberco the mark that the horse of Don Fuas Roupinho allegedly left with his horseshoe on a foggy morning in 1182, almost knocking himself and the king down while hunting into the abyss.

Surfing

Nazaré gained his world fame thanks to surfing, and, to be more precise, to a surfer with Hawaiian Islands Harry McNamaru. It was he who set the world record on the waves of Nazaré, catching a wave almost 34 m high. As soon as the New York Times published a photo of this act, Nazaré woke up famous. Since then, every winter (it is during the winter months that the highest waves rise) hairy surfers from all over the world are drawn here to set their own record of courage and skill.

By the way, the reasons for the appearance of such high waves, which, fortunately, do not reach the coast, are quite simple. Exactly opposite Nazare, something like a canyon, a long and narrow gorge, cuts in the ocean. And the undercurrents, reaching it, push those very giant waves to the surface.

The best views for surfers are from Cape Cityu. And even if you're not a big fan of boarding, by all means go up to the cape to look at this riot of nature and breathe in the most iodized Atlantic air.

Where to stay: With an eye on the "excursion" - of course, in numerous hotels and boarding houses, guest houses and hostels of the capital of Portugal, the many-sided Lisbon - here you can find an option for every taste and budget. Sun worshipers are invited to the resorts of the Lisbon Riviera - they are located just 15-30 minutes drive from the capital, so historical monuments and nightclubs are not far away. rest in

For admirers of big waves and surfers Nazare (Portugal) - good famous resort, located an hour from the capital of the country. The town was founded at the beginning of the 16th century.

It is here, due to the peculiarities of the sea landscape, that there are waves up to 30 meters high. Roaring and raging elements are able to tame only the most courageous athletes. Every year, the best surfers from all over the world come to Nazaré. Otherwise, Nazare is a small fishing town, there are many cafes and restaurants, souvenir shops.

Photo: waves in Nazare (Portugal).

general information

Tourists call Lisbon the heart of the country, and Nazare - its soul. And this soul is passionate, beautiful and noble. You can fall in love with the town endlessly and also endlessly admire the big waves of Nazare in Portugal.

The population of the city is slightly more than 10 thousand inhabitants. It is located in the Leiria region, which is known for centuries of fishing traditions and the legend of miraculous rescue Monarch Our Lady. For many decades, pilgrims from all over the world have come to Nazar, but the town gives an incredible feeling of unity with nature and allows you to enjoy beautiful landscapes.

Locals honor ancient traditions, prefer to wear old clothes, and you can often hear folk songs on the streets. Women in Nazar today wear seven skirts and, in the old fashioned way, mend nets and dry fish while sitting on the shore. Many tourists have the feeling that time has stopped here, but this did not prevent the city from becoming one of the most visited resorts in the country. There are all conditions for a comfortable stay.

The town is divided into two parts. The upper one is ancient, the main sights of Nazare in Portugal are concentrated here. In the lower town there is a beach, souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, shops and the entire tourist infrastructure.

On a note! It is better to buy souvenirs in the lower part of Nazare, as they are cheaper here.

Recreation features

If you love the ocean, then Nazare will be perfect for you, regardless of the season. The high season starts in the second half of May and lasts until the beginning of autumn, the rest of the year people of advanced age and surfers come here.

resort in summer

If your main goal is beach holiday Summer is the best time for this. However, it should be borne in mind that the Atlantic coast is quite cool, the water here does not warm up above +18 degrees. In addition, the ocean often storms. On weekends, the beach is filled not only with tourists, but also with the local population.

At the very height of the high season, the temperature varies from +17 to +30 degrees, but in the sun it feels like +50 degrees. There is almost no rain, the vegetation becomes scarce, faded, and fires often occur.

Nazaré in autumn

As the temperature drops, the waves gain strength, the weather is quite windy, it rains, but in sunny weather, the locals wear T-shirts.

Helpful information! An umbrella in Nazar will not save you from the rain, as strong gusts of wind simply turn it inside out. It is best to stock up on a waterproof jacket with a hood.

The most comfortable months for rest are September and the first half of October. At this time, the temperature is kept at the level of +20…+25 degrees, there is little precipitation.

Nazar in the spring

Early spring here is quite cool, the temperature does not rise above +10 degrees, it rains regularly. The weather becomes comfortable for recreation only in May.

Nazare in winter

The average temperature varies from +8 to +15, this is the perfect time for extreme surfing and just to watch the brave athletes. It is during the cold season in Nazaré in Portugal that the biggest waves in the world are.

Surfing

Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamaru found this amazing surfer's paradise. He owns the world record - Garrett was able to conquer a huge wave of 24 meters (although some lovers of exaggeration say that the height was 34 m). Since then, surfers from many countries have been coming to Nazaré to test their courage and courage.

Interesting fact! The secret of the constant big waves in Nazar is that there is a canyon at the bottom of the ocean opposite the town, the flow of water, falling into it, pushes a huge amount of water to the surface in the form of high waves.

If you just want to watch the athletes, go up to the cape, from where beautiful view and you can breathe plenty of air filled with iodine.

While traveling along Portugal's Golden Circle, Nazaré is a frequent stop for food as it serves delicious fish and seafood dishes.

What else to do in Nazaré:

take the ancient tram to Cityu;
eat in one of the restaurants;
admire the surfers;
meet the sunset on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and drink port wine - the famous drink of Portugal.

What to watch and where to go

The beach is a strip of sand 150 meters wide and about 1.7 km long, which is located between the harbor and the rock. On the rock are the fort São Miguel Arcanjo, built in the 17th century, a lighthouse and an observation deck where tourists come to see the city from a bird's eye view.

The beach has a developed infrastructure, soft, clean sand and many cafes and taverns. There is no natural shade on the beach, but in the summer they install canopies to protect from the heat. In the cold season, there are practically no vacationers on Nazare beach and you can admire the beauties of nature almost alone.

On a note! Not far from the beach there is a fishing market where locals bring their catch.

Cityu area

This is the historical district of the city, where all the sights are collected, it offers a panoramic view of Nazaré.

Temple of Our Lady

What to visit in Cityu:

temple of Our Lady;
Fort of the Archangel Michael;
lighthouse;
the chapel where the Black Madonna was previously kept.

The area is located on a hill, they sell delicious nuts and dried fruits. There are many beautiful handicrafts, shells from the depths of the ocean in souvenir shops. The place is atmospheric, in the evenings people come here to relax and sit in a cozy cafe. There is a toilet on the square, clean and tidy.

If you want to tickle your nerves a little, take a walk along the path that runs right over the cliff. Under bell ringing walk to the lighthouse and listen to the sound of the ocean waves. You can always use the funicular, it runs until 23-00.

observation deck Miradoro do Suberco

The observation deck is located at an altitude of 110 meters, from here you can see the city of Nazare, the beach and the ocean with its big waves.

Associated with this place beautiful legend, according to which the Madonna appeared to the inhabitants of Nazare. The saint saved the knight Fuas Rupinho from death, who lost his way in the fog and, without the help of the Virgin Mary, would have fallen off a cliff.

The observation deck is a place visited by tourists, so it is quite crowded here. From here, the beach looks like a big anthill with scurrying people and colorful canopies. Just behind the beach you can see the port with boats of local fishermen.

The two parts of the city - the upper and lower - are connected by a path, along which it is better to walk with a flashlight at night, since it is not illuminated. If you do not want to walk, use the funicular, which operates from 6-00 to 23-00. The lower part of Nazare is a labyrinth of streets that intertwine in a bizarre way.

Most of them are for walking only. Mount Sun Brush rises in a southeasterly direction. You can also consider a new microdistrict under construction.

The fort is a surf museum and is used as a lighthouse, which was installed here in 1903. This is a traditional fortification that protected the settlement from enemy attacks.

The museum exhibition is dedicated to Garrett McNamara and the huge wave he conquered. The surfer managed to ride the entire length of the wave and stay on his feet.
It was after this event that Nazare became famous and became the center of surfing and a favorite place for nature lovers. The museum exhibits photographs of a surfer, colorful posters with views of Nazaré, detailed descriptions terrain.

The lighthouse has several viewing platforms they are installed at different heights. A shaky, unsecured staircase leads to one of them, so getting there is quite difficult, and it will take some courage. Not only tourists, but also local fishermen gather at the sites.

From the lighthouse opens scenic view – new district Nazare and city beach. A staircase leads from the lighthouse to the ocean, you can go down directly to the water and feel the salt spray on your face.

Located in Cityu Square. This is a very beautiful, refined building. The legend of the Madonna is associated with it, namely, a small sculpture of the Black Madonna. It is believed that the sculpture made trip around the world and ended up in a village from Nazareth, in honor of this legend the city is named. The black Madonna was delivered to Portugal by a monk, since then the sculpture of the saint has been kept in the town. Every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and believers from all over the world come to touch it.

The landmark building was reconstructed three times, the last reconstruction was carried out in the 17th century. An oddly shaped staircase leads to the entrance. Under the exquisite domes of beautiful shape, bells are installed. Inside the temple looks very luxurious and solemn. The rooms are decorated with arches, columns and gilding. An organ is installed in the church, and opposite the musical instrument there is an altar with a sanctuary. Compared to Catholic buildings in Europe, the local church of Our Lady looks elegant and festive.

To the right of the main entrance is the Museum of Religious Arts, which can be visited for free. The exhibits include ancient church robes, sculptures and paintings on biblical themes, and household items of priests.

There is a souvenir shop at the exit. Is it possible to leave the attraction and not buy a souvenir to remember.

How to get there

The town of Nazare is located in the Leiria region, about one hour by car from the capital of Portugal. If you are traveling from Porto, the journey will take two hours. You need to go along the A8 highway. This is a toll road.

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By bus

For tourists who travel without personal transport, The best way get to Nazare - bus. In Lisbon, flights depart from the Sete Rios bus station, you can get here by metro - the Linhea Azul line, the necessary station is Jardim Zoologico. In the resort Nazare public transport arrives at the bus station located near the center.

All buses are new and comfortable, equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi. The frequency of departure of flights is approximately once an hour. Please note that weekends and holidays the number of flights is decreasing.

You can also travel from Lisbon by train, but the journey will take longer, since there is no railway station. Trains arrive at the village of Valado de Frades (6 km from the resort). The end point of the journey can be reached by taxi or bus (carrier Rodoviária do Tejo).

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Nazare (Porugal) is a unique town, attractive and amazing at any time of the year. You can come here in winter when there are big waves in Nazare, or in summer to soak up the beach. The resort offers a holiday for every taste - you can enjoy the soft sand on the beach, go shopping or taste local dishes, support sportswear on simulators, go in for extreme sports or visit sights.

How big the waves are in Nazar can be seen in the video.