Museu da Comunidade Concelhia da Batalha (MCCB)

About the museum

The Museu da Comunidade Concelhia da Batalha (MCCB; Batalha Municipal Community Museum) opened in 2011 in the town centre, next to the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a municipal museum that aims to show that Batalha has much more to offer beyond its Monastery, and its exhibition narrative was built with the participation of the community and specialists from several fields.

The route begins more than 200 million years ago, when the sea covered the territory, with fossils of marine animals and large dinosaurs. It continues with the first human beings, the Stone, Bronze and Iron Age communities and the Roman period, represented by the statue of a Roman magistrate and by objects linked to Collippo. It then covers the Battle of Aljubarrota, the vow of D. João I and the construction of the Monastery, up to the formation of the present municipality.

The museum pays great attention to inclusion: it has information in Braille and in Portuguese Sign Language, a tactile trail, objects to touch, ergonomic furniture and audio guides. It has received several national and international awards and runs programmes with schools, family activities and research projects.

Highlights

• Fossils of marine animals and dinosaurs from the Batalha territory
• Statue of a Roman magistrate and finds from the Collippo period
• Route on the Battle of Aljubarrota and the construction of the Monastery
• Objects to touch, tactile trail, Braille and video guide in Portuguese Sign Language
• Laboratório da Memória Futura (Future Memory Laboratory) and areas on biodiversity

Permanent exhibitions

• Exposição permanente – Passado – Route from the geology and palaeontology of the territory, the first human beings and the Roman period to the construction of the Monastery and the formation of the municipality.
• Exposição permanente – Presente – Areas on today's social, cultural and economic life, with awareness programmes on biodiversity and the elements of nature.
• Exposição permanente – Futuro – Spaces for research and community projects, such as the Laboratório da Memória Futura and the Ninho dos Projetos (Project Nest).

Founded

2011

Operated by

Município da Batalha

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of each month: free admission for all visitors.

Free admission applies, among others, to children up to the age of 6, teachers and pupils of the Agrupamento de Escolas da Batalha (school cluster), members of APOM and ICOM, accredited tour guides, interpreters and tour escorts, unemployed people (with proof), users of the IPSS of the municipality and users of ACAPO Leiria, under the municipal regulations.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description

Step-free, with no stairs, a lift, an accessible toilet and reserved parking in front of the museum. Ergonomic furniture adapted for wheelchairs, rest areas, Braille signage, a tactile trail on the floor, replicas and objects to touch, an audio guide with audio description, a video guide in Portuguese Sign Language and texts in easy-to-read language. Information material in English, Spanish and French.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

The education service offers guided visits, visit games and art workshops for schools, and there are activities for families. There are texts adapted for children, games and exploration activities and tactile experiences.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the town centre of Batalha, next to the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória. There is parking reserved for people with reduced mobility in front of the museum.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit