Coruche

The cork capital of the Ribatejo, on the banks of the Sorraia.

Coruche, on the banks of the Sorraia in the heart of the Ribatejo, is the capital of the Portuguese cork country. Around the town spread the montados — the open woodlands of cork oaks and holm oaks that shape the landscape of the south — and the town keeps the living memory of the people who work them.

The town

Coruche grew on the south bank of the Sorraia, on the road between the Tejo and the Alentejo, and its life has always been tied to the river and the montado: cattle, horses and, above all, cork — the bark harvested every nine years from the cork oaks that cover the plains. The town is also known for the Sorraia horse, the ancient breed of the plains, kept by the herders of the river.

What to see

The cork country — the montados and their herds — around the town.
The Sorraia river and the old bridge of Coruche.
The churches and squares of the historic centre.
The festival of the town, with its campinos and horsemen.

Visiting

Coruche lies between Santarém and the plains of the Tejo, easy to reach by road and on the line of the river. The town and the montado around it are explored by car and on foot, and the programmes of the local festivals and of the cork tours follow the official information of the municipality.