Loulé is the administrative centre of the surround region and whose economy is traditionally based on agriculture and handicrafts. Human presence can be traced back to the Palaeolithic period from artefacts found on the surface. Successive cultures and civilisations have utilised the area for its fertile lands and mineral wealth. Roman mines have been discovered in the hills northwest of Loulé. Where the castle now stands, archaeological finds have revealed the site was originally a Roman structure. Between the eighth and thirteenth centuries, Loulé was an important urban centre under the Moorish occupation. The christian reconquest of Portugal reached Loulé in 1249. The Moors who chose to remain lived in districts called "Mourarias" outside the town walls. The town continued to flourish in the Medieval period as a centre of trade and commerce. Being inland, Loulé did not benefit directly from Portugal's voyages of Discovery (15th and 16th centuries) and so did not share in the surge of growth enjoyed by other towns along the coast, such as Lagos, Faro and Tavira. Today Loulé is a thriving city with a modern, dynamic and diverse economy, counting tourism among its principal activities.

One characteristic of Loulé visitors often notice is the distinctive ornamental chimneys on the roofs of the whitewashed buildings. Their design is Arabesque and individually designed for each house. Being located inland, Loulé is off the tourist trail somewhat. But the town benefits enormously from the Algarve's tourist trade. Much of the region's souvenirs are produced within Loulés' warren of narrow streets. Artisans working in copper, iron, brass, leather, cane and timber use age-old techniques and sell their wares to the local resorts or directly to the public. Each Saturday, Loulé holds a huge market selling the finest the region can offer, including fresh local produce and regional handicrafts. This weekly market attracts hoards of locals and holidaymakers alike. Arriving early is the best way to bag the best bargains. Other town attractions include the old medieval castle, which now houses the municipal museum, old churches and the pleasure of just wandering around the maze of cobbled streets, absorbing the traditional Algarve atmosphere.

During a few days every February, the streets of Loulé come alive during the largest annual event in the Algarve. For three days, thousands of partiers dance away in colourful costumes to a Samba beat in true Brazilian style. Among the dancers, ornate floats and giant caricatures are paraded through the streets decorated according to the year's theme. For over a century, the centre of Loulé has been given over to this spectacular event. Each year, thousands flock to Loulé to join Portugal's liveliest street party. Whether you come to participate or to be a spectator, great laughs and good times are guaranteed. The Carnival of Loulé is held in February or March on three consecutive days. Festivities begin at 15h00 each day on Avenida José da Costa Mealha.

On the highest point of the old town, the remaining walls of Loulé's Castle have stood since Christian armies grappled the town from the Moors in 1249. Earlier civilisations have previously taken advantage of this strategic location. Archaeologists have unearthed Roman foundations here. Defensive walls once spanned 940 metres, encompassing medieval Loulé. Today, only a gate tower, three towers, a turret and a few ramparts, including a gangway, remain. The governor quarters (alcaidaria) dates from the 14th century and were used by King Pedro I in 1359, King Afonso V in 1458, after the conquest of the North African garrison of Alcácer Ceguer, and King Sebastian in 1573. There is also a library room and a reproduction of a medieval kitchen. The castle sustained damage during the earthquake of 1755 and was later restored in the 19th century.

Found within the walls of the castle is the Museu Arqueológico, housing a range of Roman, Moorish and early Portuguese artefacts from Loulé and the surrounding area. The largest exhibit is a huge sixteenth-century stone urn, retrieved from the castle itself. All exhibits have Portuguese and English descriptions. To walk along the castle's ramparts to admire the view is free, but there is a small fee to gain entry.

Rua Dom Paio Peres Correia 17, 8100-564 Loulé, Portugal. | 37° 08' 22.7" N | 08° 01' 25.5" W
Tuesday – Saturday: 10h00 – 13h30/ 14h30 – 18h00, Sunday & Monday: CLOSED

Just off the main Praça da República stands Loulé’s famous market hall. Its impressive red onion domes dominate the skyline on Rua José Fernandes Guerreiro. The traditional role Loulé plays as a regional commercial centre is alive and thriving within the walls of this impressive building. The market attracts traders and customers from miles around. The market was constructed in 1908 and incorporates Moorish influences in its architecture. The best produce the area can offer can be found on the stalls here. You can buy fresh fruits, dairy produce, vegetables, fish, handicrafts, herbs, live animals and much more. Each Saturday morning, there are many more vendors whose stalls spill into the surrounding streets, creating a lively atmosphere. Arrive early to find the best bargains.

Rua José Fernandes Guerreiro 34, 8100-535 Loulé, Portugal. | 37° 08' 18.0" N | 08° 01' 19.4" W
Monday – Saturday: 07h00 – 15h00, Sunday: CLOSED

Gypsy Market

There is also a gypsy market held each Saturday close to the Convento Do Santo Antonio on the western side of Loule. Here it's possible to buy handbags, clothes, shoes, jewellery and much more. Haggling is acceptable if not expected. This market is not as large as before the pandemic when there were three times as many vendors, but the market is worth investigating if in the area.

There are many churches and chapels in Loulé, but the most impressive and the oldest is the church of St. Clemente (Igreja Matriz de São Clemente). It is located 300 metres from the castle in the old town and dates from the latter part of the 13th century. The archbishop of Braga commissioned the Dominican friars to build the church over the remains of a former mosque. Occupying one side of the church is the bell tower that utilised the foundations and stones of the old mosque's minaret. It is one of the very few remaining Moorish minarets in Portugal. Despite many alterations and reconstruction works over the centuries, Igreja Matriz de São Clemente maintains much of its original Gothic design. Most notably, the beautiful ogive arched portal that is crowned by a gable and a circular window.

The interior consists of three naves and a vaulted triple apse. The supporting columns are of varying heights and built using recycled materials from earlier Roman or Moorish structures. Three side chapels were added in the 16th century: the chapel of São Brás, which has an entrance arch that combines Manueline styling with other proto-Renaissance elements, the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Consolação (Our Lady of Consolation), which has a ribbed vault, and the Capela das Almas (Chapel of Souls), in addition to an ornately carved altarpiece has walls decorated with very rare 17th-century polychrome tiles, probably of Spanish origin. On 20 June 1924, the Portuguese government classified the church as a national monument.

Largo da Igreja Matriz, 8100-517, Loulé, Portugal. | 37° 08' 14.1"N | 08° 01' 24.5" W
Tuesday – Saturday: 09h00 – 12h00, Sunday: Open for services, Monday: CLOSED