Museu da Lourinhã

About the museum

The Museu da Lourinhã is run by GEAL – Grupo de Etnologia e Arqueologia da Lourinhã, a non-profit cultural association of public utility, born from the passion of a group of friends for local heritage in the late 1970s and formally founded in 1981. The museum opened in 1984 and is the main means of studying and disseminating this heritage.

The palaeontology collection brings together much of the region's fossil heritage. Some specimens are holotypes, that is, they served as the basis for the description of new species for science, and the dinosaurs have made Lourinhã's name known beyond national borders. The museum attracts visitors, students and specialists from several countries.

Besides palaeontology, the museum devotes areas to archaeology, from prehistory (Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic and megalithism) to more recent periods, and to ethnography, focused on the way of life and activities of the region between the late 19th century and the 20th century. It also has a laboratory, a Jurassic garden, virtual reality activities and a shop.

Highlights

• Dinosaur fossils from the region, including holotypes
• Archaeology section, from prehistory to more recent periods
• Ethnographic collection on life and work in the region (19th and 20th centuries)
• Jurassic Garden
• Palaeontology laboratory
• Guided visits and school visits

Permanent exhibitions

• Paleontologia – Fossils from the Lourinhã region, including dinosaurs and specimens that gave rise to new species for science.
• Arqueologia – The most important elements of the collection and of the Lourinhã area, from prehistory to more recent periods, including sites and relief objects.
• Etnografia – Collection focused on the way of life and the main activities of the region between the late 19th century and the 20th century.

Founded

1984

Operated by

GEAL – Grupo de Etnologia e Arqueologia da Lourinhã

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on International Museum Day and on the museum's anniversary.

Free admission to the standard visit, with proof, for students from the municipality of Lourinhã up to age 18, police officers, firefighters and scouts from the municipality of Lourinhã, and GEAL members. Discounts cannot be combined with other promotions. Guided tours require prior booking.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Family tickets and school visits.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the centre of the town, next to the headquarters of the Union of Parishes of Lourinhã and Atalaia. By car, the town is about 74 km north of Lisbon; via the A8, take exit 8 (coming from the south) or exit 9 (coming from the north).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum has a shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit