The peaceful market town of Loule
Loule to me means just one thing. Carnaval! This quiet inland market town in the Algarve is no Rio de Janeiro, but it knows how to party. For over 100 years they have celebrated the beginning of Lent with Carnaval, Portuguese style. No shortage of dancing girls either, though they often have to dance hard to keep warm.
Bring on the dancing girls!
Carnaval 2012 was a classic, and I made a surprising guest appearance! Fortunately I was very easily overlooked in the crowd. Numerous photos of the Carnaval floats, of a distinctly political but humorous nature, appear in my post ‘C is for Carnaval’, so I won’t reproduce them all here. The town’s main street, Avenida Jose de Costa Mealha, is closed for the event and there is a small charge. Don’t miss it if you are in the neighbourhood!
Normally Loule (pronounced Loo-lay, incidentally) is rather more sedate. One of the most distinctive features of the town is the Arab style market, pictured in my first photograph. Smaller shops surround the market stalls and it is a treat for both eyes and nose. On Saturday mornings an open air market takes over the outdoor space too. Parking becomes no easy matter.
On my first visit to Loule I remember having to search for the remaining fragment of the town walls and the 13th century castle, but I liked what I found. Entrance to the walls is through a small museum, which traces the town’s history back through Roman to medieval times. It has the vaulted brick ceilings that I love.
The older part of town is fairly compact , and the narrow cobbled streets reveal artisan workshops and some lovely craft shops. Following the twists and turns you will come to a small square containing the town’s main church, Igreja de S. Clemente, and a tiny garden, Jardim dos Amuados, an ancient Arab cemetery.
Loule’s main landmark is visible from the A22 motorway when driving past the town. Nossa Senhora da Piedade is a dome shaped modern church which sits on a hill to the west of town. At Easter there is a huge procession in honour of the Sovereign Mother. This must be one of the few things I haven’t yet managed to see in the Algarve.
Nossa Senhora da Piedade- courtesy of Wikipedia
The procession to the church at Easter
Loule is well worth a look when you’ve tired of the beaches and need a little historical detail, or a shopping bonanza. A few parking hints and a lot of photos are available in C is for Carnaval.
For now I’ll simply thank Frizz for his inspiring A-Z series. With Tagged L this week he is just about managing to keep me on track. Grateful thanks are also due to Julie Dawn Fox, who started the Personal A-Z Challenge a long time ago! Some day I’ll manage to complete it for both countries. Join me in the challenges if you can. 
restlessjo 
I love the touches of Moorish detail in the buildings of Loule.
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Like many of the Algarve towns, there’s always a hint of the Moors. 🙂 It’s quite an interesting place, if you dig about a bit.
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Little towns that don’t have “famous” landmarks are the best for hunting around and finding bits of interesting history. 🙂
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thank you for: “…Loule’s main landmark is visible from the A22 motorway when driving past the town. Nossa Senhora da Piedade is a dome shaped modern church which sits on a hill…”
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I still have to climb that hill, Frizz! But I will 🙂
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Looks interesting Jo. I like the red domes on that building in your first image. Seems there is much more to Portugal than at first glance. Must be warmer to be dressed like those dancers in Brazil though 🙂
Jude xx
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Absolutely! I think they have a hip flask concealed somewhere about their person 🙂
The Arab market is great both inside and out.
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Inside shots please!!
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That’ll have to wait for our next trip, Jude, I’m afraid 🙂 It’s only looking back at my albums that I realise just how camera obsessed I’ve become lately. These shots were from 2012, when I was far less ‘snappy’.
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I know that feeling. All those places I went to BD (before digital) and only a handful of pretty crappy images to show for it 😦
It’s funny how addictive taking photos can get!
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I don’t think you will ever run out of things to blog about. The ABC is fun. I have an ABC category I started when I first began blogging. It took me about 6 months to finish. It was something to rely on when I didn’t have anything else to yak about.
Love your pictures!
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I’m not doing very well, am I? I must have been doing my 2 A-Z’s for at least 18 months now- probably longer! But nobody ever said it was a race 🙂 Thank you for your encouragement!
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They sure know how to party in Loule Jo, and you do too! Where are you in the photo? I think we could put those dancing girls to shame don’t you think with our steps, ha ha!! Nothing like a Carnaval like this to cheer the day, thanks for this fun and interesting post about a part of a world I know nothing about (until today that is!) 🙂
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I make a very well disguised appearance in the C is for Carnaval post, Sherri. Once is enough 🙂
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🙂
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I love a charming town that knows how to party! These are great shots, Jo, you’ve captured the spirit of the carnival. Love the procession shot…all are wonderful!
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It was a terrific atmosphere that day, Elisa. 🙂 Two years ago- where does the time go?
The floats were fabulous and I even ended up with the dancing girls for a little while. Scarey! 🙂
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Scarey, NO. Fun, YES!!
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You must brightened the sky wherever you go…the sky is always so blue! Beautiful photos!
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Ha! You wouldn’t say that if you’d been out with me this morning, Jill 🙂 I ‘suffered’ for next Monday’s walking post. Nothing like a bit of hailstone to wake you up!
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Oh no! I hope you didn’t get injured, Jo.
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Not at all, Jill 🙂 Well, only by bouncing hailstones!
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Thank you for the link, Jo! So much fun 🙂 You took beautiful photos of the town.
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I need a return trip for Easter as I haven’t yet climbed that hill to Mae Sobrana, Amy. 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to visit both posts.
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Looks like my sort of place Jo!
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I can well imagine it would be, Andrew. 🙂 Most of my photos of it are Carnaval but it has some very character filled corners.
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Love being able to participate through your photographs Jo!
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Happy to spread a little cheer in this cold, miserable weather we’re having, Mary 🙂
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Love these colorful and exciting photos. Looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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I think the party lasts for 2 or 3 days, Francine, but the ‘big parade’ was great!
Thanks, hon 🙂
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Fun Times!
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They were, Eunice! I love a good procession 🙂
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What an interesting place to visit. I love any town that hints at the olde world and this place certainly does. Those dancing girls are very brave to dance in cool weather dressed like that 🙂
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I think they must have a hip flask, Colline (though where they keep it I’m not sure 🙂 ) A ‘wee drop’ before they set out, for certain.
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You don’t have much time left to get over there for the Sovereign Mother procession Jo, so get your skates on 🙂
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Oh, I wish, David! Hail stone on the Headland this morning 🙂
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Wow, looks like a fun carnaval! Nice pictures!
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It really was! Many thanks! Most of the Carnaval floats are on the other post 🙂
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Looks a fun place..
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Carnaval was superb, Sue. Wish I was there for Easter 🙂
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Aah, indeed…
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Algarve or Hartlepool – which should I do first I wonder 🙂 Great post Jo – what’s Lenny the Lion doing in Portugal 😉
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That’s not an easy choice, is it, Robin? 🙂
When you see the photos of my Headland walk this morning, maybe you’ll disagree. What’s a little hail stone now and again!
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Beautiful images! Looks like you had a lot of fun 😉 What did you think about the Municipal Museum? It looks like a great renovation project!
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I love that style of architecture and it’s quite prevalent in the Algarve, Virginia. I would love a home with a vaulted ceiling! 🙂
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Great photos and story Jo. Perhaps next year you can be a dancing girl? 🙂
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I was (briefly) if you look at C is for Carnaval, Sue 🙂
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Will definitely check on that !
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Just thought- how’s Aberdeen? 🙂
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Already have had my haggis! Great fun here just heading out exploring . Stay tuned:)
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