Rates Ecomuseum Explained

thumb|right|280px|Anthropomorphic and zoomorphic portal in the Romanesque Church of Rates.Rates Ecomuseum (Portuguese: Ecomuseu de Rates or Ecomuseu de São Pedro de Rates) is a historic countryside pedestrian circuit or ecomuseum in the parish of Rates in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal.

Highlights of the 8 km-long circuit are the Romanesque Church of Rates, the bell-tower of the former monastery, the Praça, the rural architecture using shale as a construction material, the local section of the way of Saint James, the countryside landscape, windmills, watermills and the linen, bread and wine-making cultures.

The ecomuseum includes maps and plates with information in Portuguese and English.

History

The ecomuseum opened on April 21, 2007. Works started on eight stops (estações), for the first fase. Two more stops: Casa do Trabalhador Rural and Parque Ambiental were postponed for later development.[1]

The project was financed by the City Hall of Póvoa de Varzim with the support of the national government's Agris program on rural development, officially known as Programa Operacional Regional - Medida Agricultura e Desenvolvimento Rural.[1]

Main sights

Notes and References

  1. http://www.cm-pvarzim.pt/groups/staff/conteudo/noticias/sao-pedro-de-rates-testemunha-o-seu-passado-agricola-2013-inauguracao-do-ecomuseu-sabado-21-de-abril-as-15h00/ São Pedro de Rates testemunha o seu passado agrícola – Inauguração do ECOMUSEU, Sábado, 21 de Abril, às 15h00