It is located in the estuary of the Sado River in an area of salt marshes and old rice fields, City of Setúbal, District of Lisbon, Central Portugal
Inside, a stone inscription shows the date of 1601, which places its original construction at least at the beginning of the 17th century.
The mill located near the town of Mourisca is an example of the use of renewable and non-polluting energy.
The progressive cessation of the use for which it was designed, replaced by new techniques and new production circuits, led to the degradation of the building.
The Sado Estuary Natural Reserve has been restored, with an Ecomuseum - Environmental Education Center currently operating there.
The Center has a permanent exhibition about the nature reserve, presents information on traditional activities linked to milling, bread and salt making, and an audiovisual room.
The Mourisca Tide Mill, located in Herdade da Mourisca, is one of four known tide mills in the Sado Estuary.
In the 50s of the 20th century, in that structure measuring around 280 square meters, eight millstones operated simultaneously.
Originally consisting of a grinding room, storage room and a miller's support house, the mill operated for more than 250 years to grind cereal and produce flour.
After years of abandonment and already in an advanced state of degradation, the State acquired the property and began its restoration in 1995.
In 2012, a co-management protocol was signed between the Institute for Nature and Forest Conservation and the Setúba City Council, with both institutions being responsible for boosting the mill and the surrounding area.
Moinho de Maré da Mourisca is built next to a huge dam (boiler) that fills until high tide, then the communication gate between it and the river is closed, the troughs are opened, the dammed water is released and carried through the channels that connect the caldera to the river.
The mechanism has six millstones mounted on a wooden platform, beneath which a system of toothed wheels is driven.
The water with great force causes the caster to rotate and activates this system, which in turn, connected to the millstone, causes it to begin grinding the cereal grains.
Moinho da Mourisca holds an invaluable heritage value in the field of traditional engineering, and is currently preserved as an interpretive center ensuring the development of activities compatible with the balance of the estuarine ecosystem, the correct exploitation of resources and the promotion of outdoor recreation.
The mill located near the town of Mourisca is an example of the use of renewable and non-polluting energy.
The progressive cessation of the use for which it was designed, replaced by new techniques and new production circuits, led to the degradation of the building.
The Sado Estuary Natural Reserve has been restored, with an Ecomuseum - Environmental Education Center currently operating there.
The Center has a permanent exhibition about the nature reserve, presents information on traditional activities linked to milling, bread and salt making, and an audiovisual room.
The Mourisca Tide Mill, located in Herdade da Mourisca, is one of four known tide mills in the Sado Estuary.
In the 50s of the 20th century, in that structure measuring around 280 square meters, eight millstones operated simultaneously.
Originally consisting of a grinding room, storage room and a miller's support house, the mill operated for more than 250 years to grind cereal and produce flour.
After years of abandonment and already in an advanced state of degradation, the State acquired the property and began its restoration in 1995.
In 2012, a co-management protocol was signed between the Institute for Nature and Forest Conservation and the Setúba City Council, with both institutions being responsible for boosting the mill and the surrounding area.
Moinho de Maré da Mourisca is built next to a huge dam (boiler) that fills until high tide, then the communication gate between it and the river is closed, the troughs are opened, the dammed water is released and carried through the channels that connect the caldera to the river.
The mechanism has six millstones mounted on a wooden platform, beneath which a system of toothed wheels is driven.
The water with great force causes the caster to rotate and activates this system, which in turn, connected to the millstone, causes it to begin grinding the cereal grains.
Moinho da Mourisca holds an invaluable heritage value in the field of traditional engineering, and is currently preserved as an interpretive center ensuring the development of activities compatible with the balance of the estuarine ecosystem, the correct exploitation of resources and the promotion of outdoor recreation.
