The Salinas de Rio Maior are located about 3 km from the city center and are located in a valley at the foot of the Serra dos Candeeiros, in the heart of the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park. Classified as a Property of Public Interest since December 1997, these are the only inland salt pans in Portugal, and the only ones that are fully operational in Europe. The first reference to its existence dates from 1177, but it is thought that the use of rock salt would have been made since prehistoric times.

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May 10, 2025

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Salt is extracted from compartments – pits – made of cement or stone, of varying sizes and shallow depths, to which salt water is taken from a well through irrigation channels.

Currently, the water is raised by means of a motor and distributed according to a system that is jointly accepted and respected (not always) by all the owners. The sewers, threshing floors and wooden houses for storing salt complete the set of what is called the Salt Mines of Rio Maior.

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1. Memory Arch – Rio Maior Salt Pans loop from Batalha

97.5km

08:14

1,820m

Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

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Hard

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2. Eco-Track of Porto de Mós – Pia do Urso MTB Center loop from Cortes

138km

11:59

2,410m

Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

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3.0

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3. Terra Chã Viewpoint – Rio Maior Salt Pans loop from Rio Maior

30.6km

02:25

510m

Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

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Moderate

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Elevation 130 m

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Thursday 19 March

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Location: Rio Maior, Santarém, Portugal

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Salinas de Rio Maior

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Rio Maior Salt Pans

1. Memory Arch – Rio Maior Salt Pans loop from Batalha

2. Eco-Track of Porto de Mós – Pia do Urso MTB Center loop from Cortes

3. Terra Chã Viewpoint – Rio Maior Salt Pans loop from Rio Maior

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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