Burgau is a coastal town that once survived on the fishermen’s catch however, today it is a busy place with much to offer its community.
Whether you are planning to live and work in the Algarve, retire or invest, the region has something for all.
Burgau is placed on the easterly edge of the national park known as Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina (Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Nature Park). There are two International Schools nearby; Vale Verde in Burgau and Barlavento International Primary School, with Faro airport, public and private hospitals, and also a motorway network connecting the Algarve to the rest of Portugal and Spain easily accessible.
Whilst infrastructure is important, so too is lifestyle and in the Algarve, you can enjoy whatever pace of life you prefer. The region offers year-round cultural events, an international racetrack, major golfing tournaments and much more for visitors and residents alike. With many of the Algarve’s beaches winning the Blue Flag the coast is an important asset for residents and a major tourist attraction.
Burgau has a year-round international community living in the town and its environs. For those enjoying sports there is much to choose from; tennis, golf, cycling routes, diving, blo karting, surfing, bird watching and walking to name but a few. For those who prefer less energetic activities there are choirs, amateur dramatic groups, bands and much more in the region to keep you busy.
Most faiths are represented in the region offering the opportunity to worship locally.
Restaurants and bars
There are a variety of places to eat and drink in Burgau offering a wide choice of cuisine.
To download a guide to the Algarve’s wine, click here
For a Cataplana recipe book click here
For traditional Portuguese recipes download here
Shopping
There are several small supermarkets in the village with Praia da Luz and Lagos a short drive away where you will find larger supermarkets and daily markets selling fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, dried fruit and preserves.
There are two shopping malls to the east; one in Portimão and the second, Algarve Shopping, in Guia (near Albufeira) where shoppers will find all their favourite stores. With plenty of seats in the sun, restaurants and cafés and a multi-screen cinema located in Algarve Shopping, the late-night shopping means you can work or relax throughout the day.
Events
Throughout the year there are many fairs, festivals and shows, too many to list however, for up-to-date information on current events click here
History
The Forte de São Luís de Almadena is set on the cliffs in the direction of Salema. It was built in the 17th century but damaged in the 1755 earthquake and was then abandoned in the mid-19th century.
Nearby at the western end of Salema beach, dinosaur footprints (discovered in 1995) can be seen in the rock.
During the 15th century Sagres, 23kms away, was the base for the Voyages of Discovery, instigated by Prince Henry the Navigator, with trade between Africa and Portugal bringing a great deal of wealth to the Algarve. There is a fortress that includes a church, museum, outdoor compass and also the lighthouse on Ponta de Sagres, with a light that reaches 20kms out to sea.
If you are feeling in need of an active history lesson, an interesting trail to follow in the Algarve is the Umayyad Route, the path which the Arabs travelled throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Europe starting in the 8th century through to the 13th.
For more information on place of interest in the area click here for Vila do Bispo and here for Lagos.