Rolling green hills with rugged trails and gently sloping valleys. Meandering rivers flow to crystalline lakes and hidden waterfalls. Sweeping vistas and stunning panoramas of verdant oak forests and age-old vineyards. This is a paradise for nature lovers - a sanctuary we want to preserve and a special place you’ll soon come to share our passion for.
The Algarve region is peppered with Fontes Naturais, or the so called natural springs.
Fonte da Benémola is located in the Algarve and it is one of the lesser known natural springs. Hidden by indigenous flora and Mediterranean vegetation, this tranquil oasis is fringed by the likes of ash and willow trees, reedy canes and scrubby brambles.
Surrounded by some 400 hectares of land, the protected area of Fonte da Benémola nearby is fed by the waters of the Ribeira da Menalva, enriching an important ecological system and supporting a large diversity of flora and fauna.
Running along its banks, a trail allows visitors to enjoy this haven for wild birds and other animal populations such as the kingfishers, bee-eaters, sleepy owls and herons, but also other species like amphibians, triton salamanders and tortoises, among many others!
Limekiln
Flora
Floodplains
Birds
Hayloft 
Water 
Fonte da Benémola 
Picnic area - Fauna
Mill
Distance
Altitude Variation
Difficulty Level
Duration
Altitude max/min
Type of Route
Recommended SeasonThe pedestrian route starts at the dirt parking lot (Fica Bem), located next to the Municipal Road (MR) 524 between the villages of Tôr and Querença, and it proceeds through the main dirt road, among the characteristic vegetation of the algarvian Barrocal, passing by information Panels regarding the Benémola Flora and Floodplains. Proceeding, the route crosses a small river and turns left at the crossroads, towards the Menalva River.
Near the Ornithological Station of Fonte Benémola, there is an information Panel regarding the Birds. The route continues along the main road, where an old hayloft appears on the left. When reaching the Panel regarding Water, the Olho (spring), the poldras (step-stone bridges), a first picnic park, and, on the right, the levadas (irrigation channels), the route continues forward up to the Fonte da Benémola (spring) and then to a second picnic park, an information Panel about Fauna and the remains of an old limekilns.
The section from the intersection up to here is common to the Via Algarviana (Algarvian Route) and the pedestrian route of Sete Fontes (PR12LLE). A variant to the route is possible by crossing the water line, before the first picnic park, using the poldras. There is also a guided audio route – the Water Route - next to the water line. The route crosses the river and continues along the main road, where it is possible to find the house of an old basket maker from the region (to the left), until reaching again the Municipal Road 524. The route then turns left, crosses the Passagem Bridge, and turns left again. Following along the MR 524, it passes the old Passagem Mill (once one of the most important mills of the area) until arriving at the dirt parking lot (Fica Bem).
Information taken from the Municipality of Loulé website.
