Diapirs are a prominent feature of the Oeste UNESCO Global Geopark. In the late xix century, Paul Choffat (a Swiss geologist) dedicated most of his professional life to the cartaography of the Portuguese territory. Looking at the Oeste region, he noticed the importance of the piercing diapirs, resulting from the uprise of Hettangian evaporites and clays, deforming the overlying Jurassic limestones. He also noticed the peculiar broad flat valleys related to the erosion and exhumation of those clays, surrounded by steep crests. He named this mor – phology as “Typhonic valleys”, after the Greek God Typhon, a powerful grisly monster, the son of Gaia and Tartarus. During this tour, we will walk on the path of Paul Choffat and look at the overwhelming effects of this “monster’s activity”, ranging from the internal deformation of the diapiric layers to the broad typhonic valleys and the uplift of small mountain chains around or above them.

Take this field trip and explore three protected areas, designated for their ecological significance: the Socorro and Archeira Hills, the Montejunto Hill, the Cesaredas Plateau, and the Paul de Tornada wetland protected areas. Participants will gain insights into the region’s rich biodiversity, conservation efforts, and the ecological value of these protected landscapes. This immersive experience in Oeste Geopark protected areas will transmit to the participants the values of the country’s natural heritage, improved awareness of conservation, as well as the challenges and successes associated with the presence of people in these areas.

The Oeste Geopark has been occupied by several different communities since prehistoric times. Romans and Arabs lived here, before the conquest of the whole Iberian Peninsula by the Cristian Portuguese and French templars. The Templar culture left some signs in the territory, including churches and names of many villages offered to the Templar knights. By the beginning of the xix century, the Napoleonic French invasions led to the construction of important and strategic defense structures, and hard battles took place in specific places related to the steep diapiric crests and adjacent flat valleys (field trip C) . This field trip will explore the relationships between landscape, territorial defense or occupation, and local identity in this western region of Portugal.

This field trip will explore how the Oeste Geopark pro – motes inclusion and accessibility in geosites, showcasing adapted routes, accessible information, and innovative approaches to welcoming all visitors, including those with limited mobility, sensory impairments, or cognitive disabilities. This visit highlights the Oeste Geopark’s commitment to making geological heritage accessible and engaging for all, promoting a culture of inclusivity and respect for natural sites. It will be possible to visit museums, interpretation centres and other places that welcome visitors, talk to the people in charge and find out about the measures that are taken every day to welcome vis – itors with special needs, but also what inspired them to adopt a strategy associated with accessibility and inclusion.

The beauty and meaning of fossils attract many visitors to the Oeste Geopark, especially when we are talking about dinosaurs. However, most fossils are archived or exhibited in local or national museums, whereas the visit to the original collecting places may be quite disappointing for common visitors, as the fossils are not there anymore. Urban palaeontology arises therefore as a very friendly and easy way of having a first contact with fossils within their lithological framework, even if those rocks are not at their true geological position. Walking through the narrow streets of Santa Cruz village, to look at the floor, traditional and new houses and monuments, and visiting the nearby Jurassic cliffs, will take us to discover and understand different groups of fossils, including ammonites, corals and shell beds, as well as the environments they lived in, millions of years ago.

This visit to Caldas da Rainha, a UNESCO Creative City in Crafts & Popular Arts, offers participants an immersive experience in the city’s rich heritage of artisanal craftsmanship, ceramic arts, and cultural creativity. Throughout the day, attendees will explore traditional craft techniques, meet local artisans, and gain a deeper understanding of how Caldas da Rainha celebrates and preserves its artistic heritage, while embracing innovation. This itinerary not only introduces participants to the rich heritage of Caldas da Rainha but also provides an authentic, hands-on understanding of the city’s role as a UNESCO Creative City, celebrating the enduring value of crafts and popular arts, and their connection to the natural world.

The coastal cliffs from Baleal to Praia Azul provide a great view of the main steps of the North Atlantic opening. From the first dolomitic limestones to the deeper marls with ammonites and belemnites, Peniche cliff sections show us a complete Lower Jurassic succession including the Toarcian GSSP. Karstic cliffs and the Carvoeiro Cape complete this light walk along the coast and its rough blue sea. Southwards, the cliffs expose a Middle to Late Jurassic section with abundant in-situ corals and lagoonal layers, grading to coastal and deltaic units where dinosaur remains have been collected. Around Santa Cruz, a piercing diapir uplifted a Late Jurassic section exposed along the beach cliffs, with the first submarine canyon conglomerates announcing the terrigenous infill of the basin and the final invasion by fluvial sands with short-lived estuarine conditions. This field trip will be a visit to the main Jurassic units and palaeoenvironments telling us the story of the North Atlantic opening.

Geology is usually studied on foot, walking, and looking at the outcrops, to analyze and collect samples. Most large outcrops may be seen along newly built highways or huge and noisy quarries. But very long outcrops are also present along high coastal cliffs, sometimes exposing hundreds of meters of superimposed layers, with different colors, structures, and lithologies. This field trip will take us all on a tourist boat and give a very different perspective of the coastal cliffs of the Oeste Geopark, looking to these magnificent outcrops, from the sea landwards. The boat trip will be guided by a geologist explaining the different units and how their lithology and structure impact the morphology and evolution of this attractive Atlantic coast.

Join us for an enriching field trip where we will explore the stunning Óbidos Lagoon and the picturesque coastal village of Foz do Arelho. The Óbidos Lagoon is the largest salted lagoon in Europe, occupying a depression formed by tectonic diapiric movements. This large water body is home for important biodiversity, including a rich avian fauna (e.g. flamingos, mallards, and grebes) and also many aquatic species (e.g. clams, shrimps, octopus, eels). This excursion is designed to immerse participants in this unique landscape, and learn more about the ecosystems’ diversity. Rich cultural traditions are also associated with this lagoon, where many local families depended on the fishing tradition or harvesting salt pans, remarkable in Oeste UNESCO Global Geopark.