Guess which city 1 - Guimarães (Portugal) also the European Green Capital 2026

Take home message: Raising awareness on urban nature can be fun

 

What struck me most when visiting Guimarães was the various ways they have found to involve the community in sustainability topics. And the humour they have added to get peoples attention. Examples are the octopus crawling out of the sewer; the poles to vote with your cigarette buds for one of the two local soccer teams, the pacman’s to collect your chewing gum or the yearly nature festival full of fun rides for kids and theatre. All ways to engage people in a low barrier way in more sustainable behaviour and raise awareness on the impact they have on the local (and global) environment.

 

At the heart of all these accomplishments stands the Landscape Laboratory: an environmental education centre and research facility and innovation hub which brings people of all ages together on different sustainability topics. Strong partnerships with the University of Minho, the Municipality and the people (green brigades) make this in my opinion Guimarães’ key to success.

 

So when visiting Guimarães (preferably in 2026 - their Green Capital year!!) make sure to visit the Landscape Laboratory. On the top of your list should be a visit to Penha mountain. This could be by cable cart (going up) and by biodiversity trail (going down). Other items which are worth an ‘urban green professional visit’: a walk along the Ave river restoration project and the retention basins to regulate the storm water of the rivers Costa/Couros preventing the historic city centre from overflowing in the Parque de Cicade.

 

For some pre-visit fun take a look at the book the Landscape Laboratory published about the project "Lagoons and Ponds of the Ave River". This book was developed in the Parque dos 3 Moinhos, in the parish of Castelões. Together with the local community they observed plant and animal species and in this way helped to let local people rediscover and appreciate the nature value of this area. https://labpaisagem.pt/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/lagoasecharcasdoave.pdf