Dino Parque Lourinhã

Lourinhã sits on Late Jurassic sediments that have produced an exceptional fossil record - dinosaur bones, tracks and, most notably, nests with eggs containing embryos, among the oldest dinosaur embryos found anywhere, along with species first described from here including Lourinhanosaurus and Torvosaurus gurneyi, the largest known European predatory dinosaur. The Lourinhã museum in the town holds the actual specimens. Dino Parque, opened in 2018 nearby, is the family-facing counterpart: about ten hectares of walking trails through pine and scrub with around two hundred life-size models arranged by geological period, from the Palaeozoic through to the Ice Age, plus a laboratory where visitors can see fossil preparation, a small museum and activity areas for children. The models are the attraction, and they are what they are; the science behind the place is genuinely significant.

The main sights

• The models - around two hundred life-size reconstructions across ten hectares.
• The period trails - paths arranged from the Palaeozoic to the Ice Age.
• The laboratory - real fossil preparation visible on site.
• The Lourinhã record - the valley that produced some of the oldest dinosaur embryos found anywhere.

When to go

April to October; the park is open-air with little shelter. Two to four hours. School holidays are busy.

Practical notes

The models are fibreglass reconstructions, not fossils - the real specimens are in the town museum. Little shade on the trails. Aimed squarely at families with children. Ticket prices are high for what is essentially a walk past models.

Nearby

The Lourinhã museum holds the actual fossils; the Silver Coast beaches are west.

Key facts