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The Festival
Em 2013, numa conjuntura de vontades e interesses, duas pessoas com trabalho em curso no interior do Algarve, mais precisamente na freguesia do Ameixial (Loulé), lançaram a ideia de realizar um festival de caminhadas à Câmara Municipal de Loulé e à Junta de Freguesia local. O objecto era – e ainda é – o de revelar a riqueza natural e cultural deste território, contribuir para a dinamização da economia local, sensibilizar para a sua valorização sustentável, neste caso através do ecoturismo e do turismo cultural.
The pitch of Walking Festival Ameixial (WFA)/Festival de Caminhadas do Ameixial ganhou de imediato o apoio das referidas entidades, da população de Ameixial e de muitas pessoas que desde então nunca mais pararam de ajudar o festival e de visitar anualmente esta freguesia.
O festival de caminhadas inspirou-se no conceito dos “Walking Festivals” que ocorrem noutros países e tem como princípios base: juntar amigos num determinado território para fazerem caminhadas, dar a conhecer os valores da região, apoiar a economia local, e sensibilizar as comunidades e as entidades para a salvaguarda do património e para o desenvolvimento de práticas ambientalmente sustentáveis e valorizadoras para o território.
The specific choice of escrita do Sudoeste, algo muito localizado neste território Serra, foi a escolha consensual para a identidade do festival. Esta forma de escrita milenar é assim o elemento especial que diferencia este festival dos demais. Por esse motivo, acompanha-nos em todas as edições do Walking Festival Ameixial e transporta-nos para um território rico em elementos patrimoniais únicos.
O primeiro evento, em 2014, foi um sucesso e acolheu largas dezenas de participantes de todo Algarve e outras partes do país. Desde então tem vindo a crescer e a ganhar notoriedade regional e nacional.
Ameixial
The village, its history and traditions
11º Edição WFA
De 26 a 28 de Abril voltamos ao Ameixial com muitas actividades animação
Areas of action
Nature Tourism
During the festival, there are dozens of walks and activities to join where they explain the fauna and flora throughout the area of Ameixial.
Ecotourism
The festival makes an important contribution to raising the environmental awareness of participants about Serra do Caldeirão, about its biological and cultural values, and because every year it promotes practical actions for nature conservation.
Cultural Tourism
The festival also includes activities of observation and interpretation of the archaeological, ethnographic and architectural cultural heritage, with emphasis on the traditional writing of the Southwest, an identifying element of this event since its foundation
Valuing the Interior
The essence of this festival is revealing the secrets and values of this beautiful territory and raising awareness of sustainable development
Responsible Tourism
Besides promoting a set of high quality activities for those who visit us, the residents of Ameixial are also involved in this event/ We support their activities, generate income for local businesses and help enhance their knowledge of the territory and traditional practices
Inclusive, multicultural and accessible
This festival is for everyone, even those with mobility limitations and sensory constraints. The enjoyment of nature and culture is a precious right that should be within the reach of every human being, regardless of age, skin colour, sex, religion or physical limitations. In this event we work towards making it as universal as possible
Since 2015, the promotion and organization of the WFA has been the responsibility of QRER (Cooperative for the Development of Low-Density Territories), an official partner of the organizers of the festival. Through this cooperative, the operational and organizational part has been reinforced with the participation of other members and new support, namely from the Algarve Tourism Region.
In 2014, after the success of the 1st edition, the WFA saw other similar events pop up. In that same year, Alcoutim promoted its 1st festival and in 2015 Pampilhosa da Serra also started organizing similar events. In 2018, in a pioneering initiative in the Algarve (and in Portugal), we joined forces with the Municipality of Alcoutim and the Almargem Association. Together, we created the brand Algarve Walking Season, with the aim of promoting articulation between festivals. That same year, a new edition of the “Festival de caminhadas de Alcoutim e Sanlúcar de Guadiana" In order to reach the Western Algarve, Almargem started the 1st walking festival “Barão de São João – Walk & Art Fest". Nasceu, assim, o AWS, projecto coordenado pela QRER, com o apoio da Região de Turismo do Algarve, que ainda hoje se mantém em actividade. Em 2021 juntou-se um novo festival ao AWS, o “Festival de Caminhadas de Monchique“.
Today the WFA is not isolated. It is inserted in a small network of other similar events that also seek to promote and support sustainable development of the Algarve. In addition to making a joint effort to promote the events, there is an articulation of dates, activities and a relationship of mutual help for the best realization of the events.
The mysterious writing of the South East
During the Iron Age, the Iberian Peninsula was the place for great technological innovations and cultural transformations distributed in a commercial setting, carried out by sea, between the people of the Mediterranean.
More than 2500 years ago, in Southern Portugal and Andalusia, human communities transformed and adapted the Phoenician alphabet to create their own writing: the writing of the South-West. escrita do Sudoeste.
Concentrated in the mountains between the Algarve and Baixo Alentejo, this writing appeared on stone blocks which were fixed to the ground (stelae). It was written in an arc, from bottom to top and from right to left. It has 27 signs, including vowels, consonants and syllabic characters, some with equivalences to some letters of our alphabet. Even so, the writing of the South-West remains indecipherable and mysterious.
Since the discovery of the first stela with southwestern writing, in 1897, to the present day, 15 stelae with southwestern writing are known in the municipality of Loulé, divided into two groups: Benafim/Salir and Ameixial.
The writing of the Southwest is the voice which brings us closer to the thoughts and ways of life of the past. One of the mysteries and one of the greatest treasures of European archaeology; an archaeological reality of exceptional character; a brand image of this mountain range and a privileged symbol of the historical heritage of the Algarve. It is, after all, the first manifestation of writing in the Iberian Peninsula and is still undeciphered today.
The aspiring Geoparque Algarvensis Loulé-Silves-Albufeira aims to enhance and promote an entire territory and the local and regional heritage at international level, in particular contributing to the study and preservation of geological and cultural heritage.
Based on scientific knowledge, it also intends to contribute to increasing the sense of pride and belonging of the inhabitants of this area; to reinforce the identity of the territory; to encourage the creation of local and innovative initiatives to boost the local economy; to develop new sources of income generated through tourist entertainment activities; as well as provide socio-economic and sustainable development; to encourage people to settle there; and to foster the promotion of their quality of life.
It is in this strategy for greater social and territorial cohesion of the municipalities of Loulé, Silves and Albufeira that a set of policies and initiatives for environmental education and awareness and geotourism activities are planned, which also includes the Walking Festival Ameixial. Walking Festival Ameixial.
Camping with Glamour
In partnership with the company DOMO CAMP, this year we will have the “Glamping Village” available. Tents will be set up, located in a reserved and exclusive place, built with maximum comfort, with “real” beds, with adequate mattresses and bed linen, lamps, fan, cooler and decorated with good taste and access to dedicated changing rooms.
Nunca soube tão bem acampar*!
*The motorhome park will be available for camping and with access to showers.
Percursos Pedestres
There are 4 signposted paths that allow you to walk in Ameixial all year round.
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Promotor
The WFA is organized by QRER cooperative
Organisation
Several partners make this event possible
Partners
Several partners make this event possible
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Colaboração
Companies and associations that collaborate in WFA activities
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Support
The support received by various entities made the event possible.
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