Caldas da Rainha

Caldas da Rainha
—  Municipality  —

Flag
Coat of arms
Location of the municipality of Caldas da Rainha within Portugal
Coordinates:
Country Portugal
Region Centro
Subregion Oeste
District Leiria
Historic province Estremadura
Founded 1484
Elevated (town) 1511
Elevated (city) 1927
Founder Queen Leonor
Civil Parishes
(Freguesias)
A dos Francos
Alvorninha
Carvalhal Benfeito
Coto
Foz do Arelho
Landal
Nadadouro
Nossa Senhora do Pópulo
Salir de Matos
Salir do Porto
Santa Catarina
Santo Onofre
São Gregório
Serra do Bouro
Tornada
Vidais
Government
 - Type Município/concelho (Municipality)
 - Presidente da Câmara Municipal (Mayor) Fernando José da Costa (Partido Social Democrata)
 - Presidente da Assembleia Municipal Luís Manuel Pereira Monteiro Ribeiro
Area
 - Total 255.7 km2 (98.7 sq mi)
Population (2001)
 - Total 48,846
 - Density 201.0/km2 (520.6/sq mi)
 - City proper 25,316
Demonym Caldense
Time zone Western European Time (UTC+0)
 - Summer (DST) Western European Summer Time (UTC+1)
Postal code 2500
Area code(s) 262
Municipal holiday May 15
Demonym Caldense
Website http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/

Caldas da Rainha (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈkaɫdɐʃ dɐ ʁɐˈiɲɐ]) is a city (cidade) in western central Portugal. The city serves as the seat of the larger municipality (município or concelho) of the same name and is the seat of the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste[1] (West Intermunicipal Community). The city is best known for its hot springs and pottery.

The city was founded in the 15th century by Queen Leonor, who established a hospital at the site of some therapeutic hot springs. The Hospital Termal Rainha D. Leonor is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the world, with five centuries of history. The city's name means "Queen's Hot Springs"[2] or "Queen's Spa".

Caldas da Rainha is home to many arts-related institutions. There are numerous museums in the city, mostly related to ceramics and sculpture. The city is home to a major arts and design school, as well as a school of ceramics. In 2008, the municipal government inaugurated a new cultural center.

The city proper has a population of 25,316, ranking 40th in population among Portuguese cities.[3] The entire municipality has 48,846 residents as of the 2001 census.[4] Figures for 2008 place the number of residents at 52,823.[5]

Contents

History

Statue of Queen Leonor (Rainha Dona Leonor) in the center of a roundabout in Caldas da Rainha

Caldas da Rainha was founded by Queen Leonor, wife of King João II. One day in 1484, while traveling from Óbidos to Batalha, she found a group of peasants bathing in foul-smelling waters by the roadside. She stopped to inquire about this oddity and was told that the waters possessed curative powers. She decided to try them for herself. She was pleased to find that she was quickly relieved of some affliction she had been suffering (exactly what is not known). On that site, the queen ordered a thermal hospital built so that others may enjoy the relief that she felt. Construction began the following year, 1485. Although the first patients were admitted in 1488, construction was not completed until about 1496 or 1497. The name of the settlement that grew up around the site (Caldas da Rainha), refers to both its founder and the reason for its existence.

On March 21, 1511, King Manuel conferred the status of town (Portuguese: vila) upon Caldas da Rainha.[6] The town was elevated to the status of city (cidade) in September 1927.[6]

In the early 20th century, it had a significant artistic and intellectual life. During World War II, in which Portugal was a neutral country, hundreds of Jewish refugees came to Caldas da Rainha to escape Nazism.[7][8] During the war, Caldas also served as home to British and American airmen who landed or crashed in Portugal or off its coast.[9]

In a prelude to the Carnation Revolution, on the night of March 15–16, 1974, the Fifth Infantry Regiment, based in Caldas da Rainha in what is now the Escola de Sargentos do Exército, attempted to stage a coup d'état against the country's authoritarian Estado Novo.[10]

Caldas da Rainha's coat of arms was granted by Queen Leonor, before municipal coats of arms were typically used in Portugal. Because of its early introduction, several elements of the arms violate Portuguese heraldic standards. For example, Portuguese coat of arms typically feature a mural crown, made up of brick towers. Caldas da Rainha's arms feature a gold crown. The arms lack the typical banner bearing the municipality's name. The shield is much longer than the normal 8:7 ratio. The two smaller shields surrounding the main shield are also not in keeping with Portuguese heraldic rules.

Geography

Location

Caldas da Rainha is located at 39° 24' N latitude and 9° 08' W longitude. The municipality comprises an area of 255.7 square kilometres (98.7 sq mi) (2004 statistics).[4] The city is located approximately 82 kilometres (51 mi) north of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Although the municipality borders the Atlantic Ocean, the city proper is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the ocean.

Caldas da Rainha is located in the NUTS III subregion named Oeste, which forms part of the NUTS II region known as Centro, which is part of the NUTS I subdivision called Portugal Continental (Continental/Mainland Portugal).

Caldas da Rainha is the seat of the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste (West Intermunicipal Community).[1] The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste is legislatively coterminous with the Oeste NUTS III subregion. Before becoming an Intermunicipal Community, Oetse was a Comunidade Urbana (urban community), a designation abolished in August 2008.

Caldas da Rainha is in Estremadura, a historical province with no current legal status. The municipality is in the district of Leiria. Districts are being phased out, but still serve as a primary administrative division.

The municipality is bordered to the north by Alcobaça, to the east by Rio Maior and to the south by Bombarral, Cadaval and Óbidos.

The postal code for Caldas da Rainha is 2500. Its telephone area code is 262.

Civil Parishes (Freguesias)

The municipality of Caldas da Rainha comprises sixteen civil parishes (Portuguese: freguesias). They are:[11][12]

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)
Freguesia Population
(2001 census)		 Total Area
A dos Francos—town (vila)[13][14] 1,797 19.78 km2 7.64 sq mi
Alvorninha—town[15] 3,123 37.62 km2 14.53 sq mi
Carvalhal Benfeito 1,339 14.08 km2 5.44 sq mi
Coto 1,135 5.50 km2 2.12 sq mi
Foz do Arelho—town[13][16] 1,223 9.95 km2 3.84 sq mi
Landal 1,144 9.94 km2 3.84 sq mi
Nadadouro 1,422 9.22 km2 3.56 sq mi
Caldas da Rainha — Nossa Senhora do Pópulo (eastern half of the city proper) 14,453 12.30 km2 4.75 sq mi
Salir de Matos 2,428 24.29 km2 9.38 sq mi
Salir do Porto 770 9.91 km2 3.83 sq mi
Santa Catarina—town[15] 3,282 19.94 km2 7.70 sq mi
Caldas da Rainha — Santo Onofre (western half of the city proper) 10,775 9.11 km2 3.52 sq mi
São Gregório 907 14.42 km2 5.57 sq mi
Serra do Bouro 720 17.98 km2 6.94 sq mi
Tornada 3,150 19.82 km2 7.65 sq mi
Vidais 1,178 22.21 km2 8.58 sq mi

Demographics

A resident of Caldas da Rainha is a Caldense (plural: Caldenses).

As of the 2001 census, there are 48,846 residents in the municipality.[4] This represents a 13.1% increase over the 1991 population of 43,205. Figures for 2008 place the number of residents at 52,823.[5] As of the 2001 census, 23,483 (48.1%) residents are male and 25,363 (51.9%) are female.[4] Residents aged 14 and under number 7,666 (15.7%), those aged 15 to 24 number 6,509 (13.3%), those aged 25 to 64 number 25,867 (53.0%) and those aged 65 and over number 8,804 (18.0%). The population density is 201.0 inhabitants/km² (2004).[4]

Government

Câmara Municipal

Caldas da Rainha's municipal building (Paços do Concelho), is located on Praça 25 de Abril.

The executive body of the municipal government is the Câmara Municipal (municipal chamber). Dr. Fernando José da Costa (PSD) is the president of the câmara, effectively the mayor of Caldas da Rainha. The other members are Maria da Coneição Feliciano Antunes Bretts Jardim Pereira (PSD), Fernando Manuel Tinta Ferreira (PSD), Dr. Hugo Patrício Martinho de Oliveira (PSD), Eng. Delfim Marques de Azevedo (PS), Dr. Rui José Antunes da Cunha Simões Correia (PS), Manuel Fialho Isaque (CDS/PP).[17]

Assembleia Municipal

The former town hall stands on Praça da República. The building now serves as headquarters for the civil parish executive body (junta de freguesia) of Nossa Senhora do Pópulo.

The legislative body of municipal government is the 37-member Assembleia Municipal (municipal assembly). Luís Manuel Pereira Monteiro Ribeiro is president of the assembly. José Fernando D’almeida Silva Pereira serves as the first secretary. Virgílio Leal dos Santos (Alvorninha), who is president of the civil parish executive body (junta de freguesia) of Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, serves as the second secretary.[18]

The presidents of the each of the sixteen juntas de freguesia serve on the assembly:

The other members of the assembly are:[19]

Economy

Statistics

Bordallo Pinheiro ceramics factory

As of December 31, 2004, there are 2,075 business firms in the municipality. 3.9% are in the primary sector (agriculture), 20.9% are in the secondary sector (manufacturing) and 75.3% are in the tertiary sector (services).[4]

There are 31 banking institutions, with deposits totaling €518,021,400.[4]

As of 2001, 49% of the population is employed, while 6.5% are unemployed.[4] (The remainder are too young, are retired or do not otherwise participate in the workforce.)

Commerce

Caldas da Rainha has a vibrant downtown shopping area, with a variety of shops specializing in clothing, jewelry, beauty supplies, home decoration, housewares, and other goods. Among the main shopping areas are Rua do Heróis da Grande Guerra, Rua das Montras (officially, Rua Almirante Cândido dos Reis), Rua da Liberdade, and surrounding streets.

Several international chains have locations in Caldas da Rainha, including AKI,[20] Mango,[21] McDonald's, and Staples.[22]

There are numerous supermarkets and hypermarkets in Caldas da Rainha, including Aldi,[23] Casaleiro, E.Leclerc,[24] Intermarché,[25] Lidl,[26] Minipreço (2),[27] Modelo,[28] Pão de Açúcar,[29] Pingo Doce (three locations),[30] and Ponto Fresco.

Several small indoor shopping centers, most with only a handful of stores, exist throughout the city.

The Associação Comercial dos Concelhos das Caldas da Rainha e Óbidos (ACCCRO, founded in 1902 as the Associação Comercial e Industrial de Caldas da Rainha) aims to promote traditional commerce in Caldas da Rainha and neighboring Óbidos. The association aims to publicize smaller businesses located in the municipalitys' centers, which feel threatened by the increasing popularity of larger businesses, such as malls and hypermarkets usually found on the outskirts.

Vivaci Caldas da Rainha

Vivaci Caldas da Rainha, an indoor shopping center operated by FDO Imobiliária, was inaugurated on November 25, 2008, and opened to the public the following day. The center is located adjacent to the site of the Hotel Lisbonense, which is being rebuilt. Vivaci's four floors contain sixty stores, including fourteen restaurants, a five-screen movie theater (Cinemas Vivacine in partnership with Zon Lusomundo), a supermarket (Pão de Açúcar), and ATMs (Millenium bcp).[31][32]

CaldasShopping

CaldasShopping, originally scheduled for conclusion in 2006, was opened in late December 2008. The complex, located at the intersection of Rua Dr. Miguel Bombarda and Rua Raul Proença, is operated by Erguigest. In addition to space for about forty shops and indoor and outdoor esplanades seating 200 to 250, the CaldasShopping edifice contains offices and thirteen apartments.[33][34][35]

Centro Bordalo

Centro Bordalo, a shopping center operated by Sonae Sierra, is scheduled to open in 2010 with ninety-five stores and 1,100 parking spaces. Sonae Sierra plans to invest 56 million euros in the 24,000-square-metre (260,000 sq ft) center. It is located across from the existing Modelo hypermarket and will be connected to it by a pedestrian bridge over the street.[36]

Culture

Centro Cultural e de Congressos

On May 15, 2008, the municipal holiday, President Aníbal Cavaco Silva and Mayor Fernando José da Costa inaugurated the Centro Cultural e de Congressos (CCC),[37] a cultural and conference center. The center hosts music, theatre, dance, and cinema, as well as various expositions and conferences.

The center's grand auditorium contains 660 seats and a 600 square metres (6,500 sq ft) stage. The smaller auditorium can seat up to 150. A multi-use space of 240 square metres (2,600 sq ft) can be subdivided into four rooms. A concert café seats 60. The rehearsal space is as large as the main stage.

Expoeste

Expoeste - Centro de Exposições do Oeste, is an indoor event space. The center hosts various events, including bridal expos, seasonal festivals, fruit expos, and car shows. One of the most popular events is the annual Expotur - Festa de Verão, popularly called "tasquinhas". At this event, which takes place over the span of about week and a half at the beginning of August, food from each of the freguesias is available for purchase and on-site consumption.[38]

Ceramics

Examples of typical pottery from Caldas da Rainha

Caldas da Rainha is well known for its glazed ceramic pottery (louça das Caldas). At the end of the 19th century, the ceramic industry set up place here, making the city Portugal's ceramic and pottery capital. Ancient references to pottery manufacturing can be found in the area, with soils rich in clay. A nearby village's name, Bombarral, can be translated as "good-clay pit", revealing that the pottery tradition has been settled here since ancient times. The typical Caldas pottery has evolved since its great boom in early 20th century, but the main types are still the same.

Caldas da Rainha's pottery falls into two main categories: utilitarian housewares, such as plates, bowls, platters, mugs, and tureens; and purely decorative items, such as caricature figurines and ceramic phalluses of various sizes. Even useful articles usually serve a decorative purpose as well. One popular model, created by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, is a cabbage-shaped soup tureen, which can be displayed on a shelf or as a centerpiece when not in use.

One of the most popular decorative figures is Zé Povinho, a bearded peasant everyman character created by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro. A symbol of Portugal and the Portuguese people, Zé Povinho appears in many jocular, defiant poses.

The ceramics are available for purchase at stands in the daily market at Praça da República (Praça da Fruta) and shops in the vicinity. They are also available in stores outside Portugal, including a number of up-market housewares stores.

Gastronomy

Cavacas das Caldas are a small-bowl-sized, shell-shaped confection of flour and eggs, with a crunchy sugar covering. In June 2005, a 26 meter pyramid of cavacas was erected on Praça 25 de Abril in front of the city hall.[39] Beijinhos das Caldas (English: "kisses") are similar, but are smaller and round.

Tourism and sites of interest

Pavilhões do Parque in Parque D. Carlos I

Beaches and water

Foz do Arelho has a beach on Atlantic Ocean, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the center of town. The Lagoa de Óbidos, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean, is a lagoon located on the border with Óbidos near Foz do Arelho. Salir do Porto has a beach on the Atlantic Ocean.

Churches

The Igreja Nossa Senhora do Pópulo is a gothic church near the thermal hospital. It was built around the year 1500 by order of Queen Leonor. The church has two associated chapels: Capela de São Sebastião and Capela do Espírito Santo. The Ermida da São Sebastião is a 16th century chapel, adjacent to Praça da República. Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is a 20th century church located on Praça 25 de Abril.

Museums

Several museums are located in Caldas da Rainha. The Centro de Artes (arts center) hosts three museums of sculpture: the Museu-Atelier António Duarte, the Museu-Atelier João Fragoso, and the Museu Barata Feyo. The Museu de Cerâmica exhibits ceramic works of art, as does the Casa-Museu de São Rafael. The Museu do Hospital e das Caldas features exhibits related to the thermal hospital and the city. The Museu José Malhoa is an art museum located in Parque D. Carlos I.

Parks and plazas

Parque D. Carlos I is a large park in the center of town. The José Malhoa Museum sits in the middle of the park. The park contains a doughnut-shaped pond with a small island in the center. Visitors can rent rowboats on the pond.

Praça da República (Republic Plaza) is a public square in the center of town. The plaza, also known as Praça da Fruta (Fruit Plaza), hosts Portugal's only daily farmers' market. The plaza is surrounded by buildings, most containing shops, banks, and cafés on the ground floor.

Praça 5 de Outubro (October 5 Plaza) formerly hosted the city's open-air fish market, which has since moved to an indoor location (Mercado do Peixe). The plaza is now used for outdoor café seating and free cultural events. A parking garage sits underground below the plaza.

A statue of Queen Queen Leonor stands in the middle of the roundabout at Largo Conde de Fontalva, typically called Largo da Rainha. The iconic monument serves as a landmark and marks the entrance to the historic city center when approaching from the south on N8/N115/N360 or from the west on the N360.

Transportation

Long distance and suburban buses

Caldas da Rainha has a bus station (terminal rodoviário) located in the city center.

Rede Nacional de Expressos provides express bus service to various destinations in the country.

Rodoviária do Tejo provides rapid ("express" by another name) and interurban services to destinations in its service area (cities and towns surrounding Caldas da Rainha, Leiria, Santarém, and Torres Novas), as well as to Lisbon.

Rocaldas-Empresa de transportes Auto-Penafiel, Lda. services outlying, suburban, and rural areas near the city. Their buses do not use the bus station.

Local buses

TOMA

On May 15, 2007, the municipal holiday, the municipal council inaugurated local bus service. The service is called TOMA, which means "take this" in Portuguese, and commemorates everyman figure Zé Povinho, whose image appears on the buses.

The first phase of TOMA consists of two routes, Linha Verde (Green Line) and Linha Laranja (Orange Line). Each route operates using a single twenty-nine-seat minibus on a continuous loop with thirty-minute intervals. Stops serviced by both lines are served at fifteen-minute intervals.[40][41] On January 9, 2008, the city council announced that persons in wheelchairs would ride free of charge.[42]

TOMA service runs from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 8:00 a.m to 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, with no service on Sundays.[43][44]

Linha Verde (Green Line)

The Linha Verde (Green Line) was inaugurated on May 15, 2007, as part of the first phase of TOMA service. This loop route stops at:[45][46]

Linha Laranja (Orange Line)

The Linha Laranja (Orange Line) was inaugurated on May 15, 2007, as part of the first phase of TOMA service. This loop route stops at:[45][46]

Linha Azul (Blue Line)

In May 2008, the municipality announced a new route, Linha Azul (Blue Line), which will serve the northern areas of the city not included in the two first-phase routes. The new route will be operated using two buses, rather than the single bus used by each of the two existing routes.[47][48] Introduction of the new line has been delayed, because the company which won the bid to operate the line decided not to undertake the project after all.[49] The new route will be inaugurated on September 19, 2009, Public Transport Day.[46] The blue line will stop at:[46]

Projecto Tornada

Tornada is a significant population and employment center in the municipality, just north of the city on the N8 (aka EN8) roadway. Many residents complain of poor public transportation options. In reality, many buses operated by Rodoviário do Tejo or Rocaldas (aka Empresa de Transportes Auto Penafiel) pass through and stop in Tornada, though all are designed for further destinations. The municipal government in cooperation with the two bus operators, has undertaken "Projecto Tornada" to produce and disseminate a combined schedule of services, to coordinate and improve bus stops on N8, and to improve pedestrian access along N8. Conclusion of the project is set for the beginning of 2010.[46]

Rail

Caldas da Rainha railway station

Caldas da Rainha has a train station served by the Linha do Oeste (western line) of Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses. Interregional trains, which make select stops, run south to Lisbon and north to Coimbra. Regional trains, which make all local stops, run south to suburbs of Lisbon, where passengers can transfer to a commuter train to reach the capital, and north to Figueira da Foz. All trains serving Caldas da Rainha begin or end their trips there. No through service stops at Caldas da Rainha.[50] Other train stops in the municipality are Campo-Serra and Salir do Porto; the Bouro stop was discontinued in 2006.

Roads

Caldas da Rainha is served by an extensive network of roads. Two motorways (auto-estradas), both operated by Auto-Estradas do Atlântico, serve the municipality. The A8 (also known as Auto-estrada do Oeste and as IC1) goes south to Lisbon, Loures, Torres Vedras, and Bombarral and north to Leiria, Marinha Grande, Alcobaça, and Nazaré. The A15 goes west to Santarém via Rio Maior. IP 6 is a main route (itinerário principal) connecting to Peniche, Santarém, Castelo Branco, and Spain.

Several national roads (estradas nacionais), which are older and not as well-maintained as motorways and main routes, serve the municipality. EN 8 (N8) crosses the municipality from north to south, connecting to Alcobaça and Leiria to the north and Óbidos, Bombarral, Torres Vedras, and Loures to the south. EN 8 runs through the center of the city, although the part of its route along Rua dos Heróis da Grande Guerra is now a pedestrian zone. EN 8 was the municipality's main roadway before the A8 motorway was built.

EN 114 (N114), in the center and southeast of the municipality, goes to Peniche, Rio Maior and Santarém. EN 114-1 (N114-1), in the center and east of the municipality, connects to EN 114. EN 115 (N115), along the south and southwest border of the municipality, runs to Cadaval. EN 360 (N360) crosses the municipality southwest to northeast, connecting to Alcobaça. EN 361 (N361), in the southwest of the municipality, connects to Cadaval and Rio Maior.

Education

Caldas da Rainha is home to many educational institutions.

Higher education

There are two institutions of higher education in Caldas da Rainha.[51]

Escola Superior de Artes e Design de Caldas da Rainha (ESAD.CR), founded in 1990, is a school of the Instituto Politécnico de Leiria (IPL). ESAD offers courses in plastic arts, industrial design, ceramic design, graphic design, multimedia design, theatre, "cultural animation", and sound & image.[52]

Escola Superior de Biotecnologia (ESB) da Universidade Católica Portuguesa offers courses in biotechnology. The Caldas da Rainha campus, founded in 1999, is an extension of ESB's Porto base.[53][54]

Primary and secondary education

There are two secondary schools (escolas secundárias, years ten through twelve) in Caldas da Rainha.[55] Escola Secundária Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro is located in Nossa Senhora do Pópulo freguesia and Escola Secundária Raúl Proença is located in the neighborhood of Bairro do Arneiros in Santo Onofre freguesia.

Caldas da Rainha has three basic schools (escolas básicas) for the second and third cycles (segundo (2°) ciclo, years five and six; and terceiro (3°) ciclo, years seven through nine).[55] E.B. 2,3 D. João II is located in Nossa Senhora do Pópulo freguesia and offers the second and third cycles only. EBI 1,2,3 Santo Onofre is located in the neighborhood of Bairro das Morenas in Santo Onofre freguesia and offers the first, second, and third cycles. EBI de Santa Catarina, located in Santa Catarina freguesia, offers kindergarten, first, second, and third cycle classes.

Caldas da Rainha has 48 schools for the first cycle (primeiro (1°) ciclo, years one though four) located throughout the municipality. The schools, together with the kindergartens, are divided into five geographic groups for administrative purposes.[56] They are located at A-dos-Francos, Alvorninha, Antas, Avenal, Bairradas, Bairro da Ponte, Bairro dos Arneiros, Cabreiros, Campo, Carreiros, Carvalhal Benfeito, Casais da Serra, Casal da Areia, Casal da Marinha, Casal das Freiras, Chão da Parada, Coto, Cumeira, Encosta do Sol, Espinheira, Fanadia, Foz do Arelho, Guisado, Lagoa Parceira, Mata, Mestras, Moita, Nadadouro, Parque, Peso, Rabaceira, Ramalhosa, Reguengo da Parada, Relvas, Ribeira dos Amiais, Rostos, Salir de Matos, Salir do Porto, Santa Catarina (E.B.I. 0,1,2,3), Santa Susana, Santo Onofre (E.B.I. 1,2,3), São Clemente, São Gregório, Tornada, Trabalhias, Vidais, Vila Verde, and Zambujal.

Caldas da Rainha has 27 kindergartens (jardims de infância).[56] They are located at A-dos-Francos, Antas, Avenal, Bairro dos Arneiros, Carreiros, Carvalhal Benfeito, Casais da Serra, Casal Celão, Casal da Areia, Coto, Cruzes, Foz do Arelho, Lagoa Parceira, Moita, Morenas, Nadadouro, Rabaceira, Ramalhosa, Reguengo da Parada, Salir do Porto, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina (E.B.I.), Santa Susana, São Clemente, São Cristovão, São Gregório, and Tornada.

Colégio Rainha D. Leonor, in Santo Onofre, is a private school offering basic and secondary education.

Colégio Frei Cristóvão, in A-dos-Francos, is a private school, offering years five through nine.[57]

Vocational education

Caldas da Rainha has several institutions offering vocational education.[58]

The Escola Técnica Empresarial do Oeste (ETEO) is a school of business and technology.

The Centro de Formação Profissional Para a Indústria Cerâmica (CENCAL) offers training related to the ceramics industry.[59]

The Centro Formação Profissional Indústria Metalúrgica e Metalomecânica (CENFIM) offers courses in metallurgy.

The Escola de Sargentos do Exército trains sergeants for the Portuguese Army.[60]

The Conservatório de Caldas da Rainha is a conservatory of music.

The Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo do Oeste-Caldas da Rainha offers training in hospitality and tourism.[61][62]

Other

The Centro de Educação Especial Rainha Dona Leonor offers special education.

Health care

Hospital Termal Rainha D. Leonor

Caldas da Rainha is home to the Centro Hospitalar das Caldas da Rainha (Hospital Center of Caldas da Rainha), which consists of both medical and cultural institutions.[63] Among these are the Hospital Distrital Caldas da Rainha (Caldas da Rainha District Hospital), which is a major regional hospital serving several municipalities in the area. The hospital serves all emergency needs of all parts of Bombarral, Caldas da Rainha, and Óbidos. It also serves certain emergency needs for certain parts of Alcobaça, Nazaré, Peniche, and Rio Maior.[64] The Hospital Termal Rainha D. Leonor (Queen Leonor Thermal Hospital), a spa offering medically prescribed treatment in sulfurous waters, is also part of the Centro Hospitalar. Among the non-medical institutions of the Centro Hospitlar are the Museu do Hospital e das Caldas (Museum of the Hospital and Spa) and the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, a church.

Caldas da Rainha is also served by a health center, Centro de Saúde Caldas da Rainha,[65] which offers primary and non-urgent care. Additionally, there is a Unidade de Saúde Familiar (Family Health Unit) in Tornada and ten Extensões de Saúde (Health Extensions) in Alvorninha, Carreiros (A-dos-Francos), Carvalhal Benfeito, Foz do Arelho, Rostos (Landal), São Gregório, Santa Catarina, Vidais, A-dos-Francos, and Salir de Matos.

Public safety

Fire protection is provided by the Bombeiros Voluntários de Caldas da Rainha (BVCR, Volunteer Firefighters of Caldas da Rainha).

Police protection in the urban areas of the municipality is provided by the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP, Public Security Police).[66]

Rural areas of the municipality are patrolled by the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR, National Republican Guard). The GNR's base is located within the city proper.

Twin towns (sister cities)

Caldas da Rainha is twinned with the following places:[67]

Sports

Headquarters of Federação Portuguesa de Badminton

Caldas Sport Clube (CSC) was founded May 15, 1916. The club sponsors an association football (soccer) team which competes in the Portuguese Football Federation's 2nd Division — Series C. The team plays at Campo da Mata, a 13,000-seat field located in a forest adjacent to Parque D. Carlos I. CSC also sponsors several youth (junior) football teams for various age groups.

The western edge of the city is home to the Complexo Desportivo Municipal (municipal sports complex). The main feature is a rugby field surrounded by a running track. The field is home to Caldas Rugby Clube. The field can also be used for association football (soccer). The municipality recently added five tennis courts (two of which are covered) in an adjacent facility. Plans are underway to build facilities for badminton and beach soccer and rugby. The municipal pools are located nearby.

Caldas da Rainha has a bull ring (praça de touros), inaugurated in 1883,[68] which is actively used during bullfighting season.

The Portuguese Badminton Federation (Federação Portuguesa de Badminton) is headquartered in Caldas da Rainha.[69]

On October 4 and 5, 2008, Caldas da Rainha hosted the modern pentathlon World Cup final, an event sanctioned by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).[70][71]

Notable natives

References and notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Estatutos da Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste". http://www.am-oeste.pt/_uploads/EstatutosdaComunidadeIntermunicipaldoOeste.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-22. 
  2. ↑ Howe, Marvine (6 August 1989). "SHOPPER'S WORLD; Earthy Pottery From Portugal". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5DB1E3DF935A3575BC0A96F948260&sec=travel&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2009-01-03. 
  3. ↑ Uma População Que Se Urbaniza: Uma avaliação recente Nuno Pires Soares, Instituto Geográfico Português (Geographic Institute of Portugal)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "Instituto Nacional de Estatística". http://www.ine.pt/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Statistics Portugal". http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&indOcorrCod=0000611&contexto=pi&selTab=tab0. Retrieved 2009-06-21. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 História e Geografia from Portal Caldas da Rainha
  7. ↑ "Caldas da Rainha e os refugiados da II Grande Guerra" from Gazeta da Caldas
  8. ↑ "March of Time -- outtakes -- Refugees in Caldas da Rainha". Steven Spielberg Film and Video Archive at USHMM. U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. http://resources.ushmm.org/film/display/main.php?search=simple&dquery=Keyword(s)%3A+REFUGEES&cache_file=uia_GmTYBO&total_recs=153&page_len=25&page=1&rec=15&file_num=1103. Retrieved 11 June 2010. 
  9. ↑ Cipriano, Carlos. "'Aterrem em Portugal' dá a conhecer novas facetas das Caldas da Rainha durante a II Guerra Mundial" (in Portuguese). Gazeta das Caldas. http://www.gazetacaldas.com/Desenvol.asp?NID=25147. Retrieved 2009-08-23. 
  10. ↑ Lopes, Mário (March 20, 2007). "Fernando Rosas: golpe militar de 16 de Março revelou a fraqueza do regime". Tinta Fresca — Jornal de Arte, Cultura & Cidadania. http://www.tintafresca.net/News/newsdetail.aspx?news=66f98bc6-b4fb-40f1-adac-a12cf2ca7027&edition=77. Retrieved 2009-03-16. 
  11. ↑ Nossa Senhora do Pópulo and Santo Onofre are urban freguesias and form the city of Caldas da Rainha; the other fourteen freguesias form the rural part of the municipality and do not belong to the city. Some sources, including the INE, count part or all of Tornada as being part of the city, due to its increasingly urban nature.
  12. ↑ The two freguesias which comprise the city are officially designated by the INE as Caldas da Rainha (N Senhora do Pópulo) and Caldas da Rainha (Santo Onofre). N Senhora do Pópulo is listed by this organization between Alvorninha and Carvalhal Benfeito, as if its name were simply Caldas da Rainha. Santo Onofre is last in the INE's list of Caldas's freguesias, because it was the most recent created, and the INE did not renumber the freguesias.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Francisco, Susete (June 12, 2009). "Criadas cinco novas cidades" (in Portuguese). Diário de Notícias. http://dn.sapo.pt/inicio/portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=1260834. Retrieved 2009-06-12. 
  14. ↑ "Lei n.º 54/2009 de 5 de Agosto: Elevação da povoação de A dos Francos, no município das Caldas da Rainha, distrito de Leiria, à categoria de vila". Diário da República, 1.ª série — N.º 150. 2009-08-05. http://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/2009/08/15000/0507305073.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-24. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Ferreira, Fátima (May 1, 2009). "Elevação a vila de A-dos-Francos e Foz do Arelho aprovadas com aclamação pelos deputados municipais" (in Portuguese). Gazeta das Caldas. pp. 27–28. http://www.gazetacaldas.com/Desenvol.asp?NID=25889. Retrieved 2009-05-02. 
  16. ↑ "Lei n.º 55/2009 de 5 de Agosto: Elevação da povoação de Foz do Arelho, no município das Caldas da Rainha, distrito de Leiria, à categoria de vila". Diário da República, 1.ª série — N.º 150. 2009-08-05. http://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/2009/08/15000/0507305073.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-24. 
  17. ↑ "Portal Caldas da Rainha > Geral > Município > Executivo". http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/GERAL/MUNICIPIO/EXECUTIVO. 
  18. ↑ "Portal Caldas da Rainha > Geral > Assembleia > Mesa Assembleia". http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/GERAL/ASSEMBLEIA/MESA_ASSEMBLEIA. 
  19. ↑ "Portal Caldas da Rainha > Geral > Assembleia > Composição Assembleia". http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/GERAL/ASSEMBLEIA/COMPOSICAO_ASSEMBLEIA. 
  20. ↑ "AKI - Bricolage . Decoração . Jardim : Lojas :AKI Caldas da Rainha". http://www.aki.pt/2009/index.php?id=31&lj=28. Retrieved 2009-08-21. 
  21. ↑ "Mango". http://www.mango.com/oi/index.html. Retrieved 2009-08-21.  (click on Store Locator at bottom of page)
  22. ↑ "Staples — Loja de Caldas da Rainha". http://www.staples.pt/HTML.aspx?page=lojas/caldas.htm. 
  23. ↑ "ALDI próximo de si". http://www.aldi.pt/ADR_PT/index.shtml. 
  24. ↑ "Portail E.LECLERC" (in French). http://www.e-leclerc.com/c2k/portail/storelocator/etranger_result_caldas.asp. Retrieved 2008-11-13. 
  25. ↑ "Os Mosqueteiros". http://www.mosqueteiros.com/details_inter.asp?ID=72. Retrieved 2008-11-13. 
  26. ↑ "LIDL Pesquisa de lojas". http://storefinder.lidl.com/lidl/lidl.pt/SearchAddress.aspx?SO=&STO=&SP=2500&SEARCH=TRUE. 
  27. ↑ "Dia Portugal Supermercados". http://www.clubeminipreco.webside.pt/mp/lojas/lojas.asp?dir1=Caldas+da+Rainha. 
  28. ↑ "Modelo perto de si (home)". http://www.modelo.pt/index.php/modelo-perto-de-si.html. Retrieved 2008-11-13. 
  29. ↑ "Pão de Açúcar das Caldas da Rainha". http://corporate.lc.jumbo.pt/GrupoAuchan/Lojas/PACaldas.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-21. 
  30. ↑ "Pingo Doce: As Nossas Lojas". http://www.pingodoce.pt/popupmapa.aspx?id=104. Retrieved 2009-08-21.  note: currently shows only two of three locations
  31. ↑ Gomes, Francisco (2008-11-12). "Abertura do Vivaci Caldas gera expectativa" (in Portuguese). Jornal das Caldas. http://www.jornaldascaldas.com/index.php/2008/11/12/abertura-do-vivaci-caldas-gera-expectativa/. Retrieved 2008-11-13. 
  32. ↑ Narciso, Natacha; Susana Gonçalves (December 5, 2008). "Oferta diversificada entre as principais marcas do novo centro comercial" (in Portuguese). Gazeta da Caldas. http://www.gazetacaldas.com/Desenvol.asp?NID=24151. Retrieved 2008-12-11. 
  33. ↑ "LardoceLar — Empreendimentos: CaldasShopping". http://www.lardocelar.com/empreendimentos/caldasshopping/. Retrieved 2008-12-31. 
  34. ↑ "Caldasshopping abre portas". Jornal das Caldas. December 31, 2008. http://www.jornaldascaldas.com/index.php/2008/12/31/caldasshopping-abre-portas/. Retrieved 2008-12-31. 
  35. ↑ Narciso, Natacha (January 2, 2009). "Abriu o CaldasShopping no centro da cidade" (in Portuguese). Gazeta das Caldas. http://www.gazetacaldas.com/Desenvol.asp?NID=24501. Retrieved 2 January 2009. 
  36. ↑ "Sonae Sierra » Projectos" (in Portuguese). http://www.sonaesierra.com/Web/pt-PT/findus/projects/Portugal/Centro_Bordalo/centerdetail.aspx. Retrieved 2009-01-02. 
  37. ↑ Some sources omit the word "de" before "Congressos". This omission is incorrect, as "de" is needed for grammatical parallel structure, since "cultural" is an adjective and "congressos" is a noun. Even the center's official World Wide Web site at http://www.ccc.eu.com/ does not resolve the issue. The page title contains "de", but the logo does not. At http://www.presidencia.pt/?idc=10&idi=16093, the plaque in the fourth photo contains "de", but the podium in the eighth photo and the signage in the last photo do not. A Municipal Assembly meeting resolved the issue, with the omission being classified as an error to be corrected [1] (in Portuguese)
  38. ↑ Lopes, Inês (2009-08-13). "Tasquinhas de volta à Expoeste" (in Portuguese). Jornal das Caldas. http://www.jornaldascaldas.com/index.php/2009/08/13/tasquinhas-de-volta-a-expoeste/. Retrieved 2009-09-15. 
  39. ↑ "Pirâmide com 48900 cavacas das Caldas", Jornal Oeste Online, June 17, 2005
  40. ↑ "Portal Caldas da Rainha> Munícipe > Transportes e Parque > Projecto Mobilidade". http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/MUNICIPE/TRANSPORTES_PARQUE/PROJECTO_MODILIDADE. 
  41. ↑ "Tomar o autocarro na cidade", by Francisco Gomes, from Jornal Oeste Online, May 16, 2007
  42. ↑ Utentes em cadeira de rodas não pagam viagem nos TOMA, Portal Caldas da Rainha
  43. ↑ http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/GERAL/PROJECTO_MODILIDADE/INFO_UTIL/Horario_Linha_Verde.pdf
  44. ↑ http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/GERAL/PROJECTO_MODILIDADE/INFO_UTIL/Horario_Linha_Laranja.pdf
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 O Project Toma - 1, Portal Caldas da Rainha
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 Aboim, João (2009-09-04). "Reformular os transportes públicos entre Caldas da Rainha e a Tornada" (in Portuguese). Gazeta da Caldas: pp. 32–33. 
  47. ↑ "Nova linha do Toma ", Gazeta das Caldas, May 23, 2008
  48. ↑ "Cidade Nova, Bairro Azul e zona dos museus contemplados: Toma vai ter novos trajectos", Jornal da Caldas, May 21, 2008
  49. ↑ "Concurso para Linha Azul do Toma anulado por suspeitas da Câmara", Jornal das Caldas, October 15, 2008
  50. ↑ "Lisboa/ Mira Sintra — Meleças / Coimbra / Figueira da Foz from www.cp.pt" (PDF). http://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/Imagens/PDF/Passageiros/horarios/regionais_2007/lisboa_fig_da_foz.pdf. 
  51. ↑ "Portal Caldas da Rainha > Munícipe > Educação > Ensino Superior". http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/MUNICIPE/EDUCACAO/ENSINO_SUPERIOR. 
  52. ↑ "Escola Superior de Artes e Design de Caldas da Rainha > Apresentação". http://www.esad.ipleiria.pt/index.php?id=2. 
  53. ↑ "ESB — Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa". http://www.esb.ucp.pt/. 
  54. ↑ "EESBCR::Extensão da Escola Superior de Biotecnologia em Caldas da Rainha". http://www.esb.ucp.pt/eesbcr/. 
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 "Portal Caldas da Rainha > Munícipe > Educação > 2°,3 °Ciclo e Secundárias". http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/MUNICIPE/EDUCACAO/2_3_CICLO. 
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 "Portal Caldas da Rainha > Munícipe > Educação > Agrupamentos Escolas". http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/MUNICIPE/EDUCACAO/AGRUPAMENTOS_ESCOLAS. 
  57. ↑ "Aulas começam na segunda-feira no Colégio Frei Cristóvão", Pedro Antunes, Jornal Oeste Online, September 16, 2007
  58. ↑ "Portal Caldas da Rainha > Munícipe > Educação > Ensino — Vários". http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/MUNICIPE/EDUCACAO/ENSINO_VARIOS. 
  59. ↑ "Cencal". http://www.cencal.pt/en/default.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-18. 
  60. ↑ "ESCOLA DE SARGENTOS DO EXÉRCITO: HISTORIAL". http://www.ep-sargentos-exercito.rcts.pt/HISTORIAL.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-18. 
  61. ↑ "Abertura das Escolas de Hotelaria e Turismo do Oeste-Caldas da Rainha e Portalegre". Turismo de Portugal, I.P.. http://www.turismodeportugal.pt/Português/AreasActividade/formacao/Destaques/Pages/AberturadasEscolasdeHotelariaeTurismodoOeste-CaldasdaRainhaePortalegre.aspx. Retrieved 2008-12-11. 
  62. ↑ Barroso, Carlos (December 10, 2008). "Secretário de Estado inaugura Pólo das Caldas da Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo do Oeste". Jornal das Caldas. http://www.jornaldascaldas.com/index.php/2008/12/10/secretario-de-estado-inaugura-polo-das-caldas-da-escola-de-hotelaria-e-turismo-do-oeste/. Retrieved 2008-12-11. 
  63. ↑ "Centro Hospitalar das Caldas da Rainha". http://www.chcrainha.min-saude.pt/. 
  64. ↑ "Portal da Saúde — Hospital Distrital Caldas da Rainha (Centro Hospitalar Caldas da Rainha)". http://www.portaldasaude.pt/Portal/servicos/prestadoresV2/?providerid=2564. 
  65. ↑ "Portal da Saúde — Centro de Saúde Caldas da Rainha". http://www.min-saude.pt/portal/servicos/prestadoresV2/?providerid=411. 
  66. ↑ "Polícia de Segurança Pública" (in Portuguese). http://www.psp.pt/psp/onde_estamos/leiria.html. Retrieved 2008-11-14. 
  67. ↑ "Portal Caldas da Rainha > Geral > Município > Geminações". http://www.cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/GERAL/MUNICIPIO/GEMINACOES. 
  68. ↑ "Caldas Toiros e Cultura — Jornadas Taurinas". http://www.caldastoirosecultura.com/pagina.php?id_pagina=13&ano=2008. Retrieved 2008-12-23. 
  69. ↑ "Federação Portuguesa de Badminton". http://www.fpbadminton.pt/. 
  70. ↑ "www.pentathlon.org/fileadmin/download/Invitations/Convite_oficial1.pdf" (PDF). http://www.pentathlon.org/fileadmin/download/Invitations/Convite_oficial1.pdf. 
  71. ↑ "www.pentathlon.org/fileadmin/download/newsletter/080930_september.pdf" (PDF). http://www.pentathlon.org/fileadmin/download/newsletter/080930_september.pdf. 
  72. ↑ "Patriarcado de Lisboa". http://www.patriarcado-lisboa.pt/bispos/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-23. 

External links

Official World Wide Web sites

Maps

Newspapers

Other links

Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste (Intermunicipal Community of the West)
Alcobaça · Alenquer · Arruda dos Vinhos · Bombarral · Cadaval · Caldas da Rainha  · Lourinhã  · Nazaré  · Óbidos · Peniche  · Sobral de Monte Agraço · Torres Vedras
Municipalities of Leiria District
Alcobaça · Alvaiázere · Ansião · Batalha · Bombarral · Caldas da Rainha  · Castanheira de Pera  · Figueiró dos Vinhos  · Leiria · Marinha Grande  · Nazaré · Óbidos · Pedrógão Grande  · Peniche · Pombal · Porto de Mós
 Flag of Portugal