The Barge

A boat ride where you breathe calm and happiness

Come and discover the banks of the Cávado River on a pleasant river ride lasting approximately 1h45 aboard a replica of the old Passing Barge, existing on the mythical Barca do Lago.

In addition to the vast landscape heritage, full of stunning natural landscapes, you will be able to observe different species of birds typical of the region and migratory. The boat ride can be carried out along the Cávado river, upstream to Mariz or downstream, through the Cávado estuary, in the middle of the north coast natural park.

An important symbol of local history, the replica of the passing ferry, completed in 2017, provides an experience of the past while keeping the region’s history and traditions alive.

The Passing Barge replica is a tourist project developed by Proriver, whose main objective is to honor the history of the Cávado River, the municipality of Esposende and its people.

A barca
  • In 2006, together with a colleague, Belmiro made the way from Esposende to Santiago de Compostela by sea by kayak, and that's when the idea of recreating the passing boat came up, with the aim of honoring the history of the Cávado River and Esposende, making people aware of the impact it once had in the region. In addition, the past of this vessel was linked to the pilgrimage, which is increasingly becoming a recognized activity in the area and which links tradition to tourist trade. 
  • José Ramos, one of the founders of the Nelo brand, was the one who designed the basis for the barge project, but it was José Coelho, former designer of the old shipyards of Viana do Castelo, who developed this project in greater detail.
  • However, despite being a recreation of the past passing barge, it is just a replica of its external image, as the base of the structure of this vessel was built only with wood, which in contact with water and influenced by the weather factor quickly degraded, requiring constant manpower. Thus, Belmiro opted for a longer-lasting and more resistant structure made of fiberglass in polyester, keeping its outer covering in wood.
  • In order for the construction project to be accepted, it was handed over to the Directorate General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM), the entity responsible for approving the project and the vessel's inspection. After the entire approval process, Belmiro Penetra started the construction of the vessel, finishing it in early 2017.
0 Km
from the center of Esposende
0 Km
from A28 highway
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types of activities
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