Tide Mills in Portugal

  Vila Real Santo Antonio

Tide Mills were once a common sight on the Algarve in Portugal and have been around for centuries with the first going into operation in the 13th century.

Today though only a few tide mills remain and the last was decommissioned in the 1970s. It is still possible though to visit a tide mill if you are in the Algarve. At Quinta do Marim in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, on the outskirts Olhão, you can not only walk round one but see the machinery inside.

The tide mill at Ria Formosa is still in working order, though the grinding machinery has been disabled to ensure against injury to visitors who can wander around freely.

The tide mills took advantage of the in and out going tides, utilising free energy to grind corn to be made into flour. The force of the incoming tides opened lock-type allowing water to rush into large pond or lakes. The water continued to gush past until the water levels on either side of the gates were identical.

As the tide fell the incoming lock-gate would close and once the tide had fallen sufficiently the mill-keeper or miller would open the tide mills' sluice gates at the millrace. Water would rush out of the millrace with sufficient energy to turn the water wheel and thus power the machinery inside.

At a time when the world is looking at renewable energy sources to create enough power, it can be educational to visit the tide mill at the Parque Natural de Ria Formosa. Not only is the walk to the tide mill, through the nature park, pleasant, but if you pack a picnic in your rucksack, you will be rewarded with stunning views over the lagoon as you eat your lunch.