The Luz Museum (Luz, Mourão, Alentejo) is a unique space of culture and identity. Built between the village of Luz and the shore of Lake Alqueva, it is a space for interpreting the profound changes that have occurred in this area, resulting from the construction of the dam and the submersion of a village. The schist building itself, which has won several awards, has a striking architecture and is perfectly integrated into the landscape.
Its exhibitions – temporary and of a variety of nature – focus on the museum’s underlying themes: the identity, history and landscape of this place. Multiple and diverse interpretations that reactivate memories and meanings for the reconstruction of the place.
The idea of a museum originated in the 1980s, as part of the definition of compensatory measures for the impacts resulting from the implementation of the Alqueva project and the restoration of the village. Open to the public since 2003, the museum has been in regular operation ever since. In 2005, the Museum received an honorable mention from APOM (Portuguese Museology Association) in the category of ‘Best Museum in the Country’. In May 2010, it became part of the Portuguese Museum Network (RPM), responsible for accreditation and qualification in the museum sector.