Museu do Ciclismo

The Cycling Museum is located at Rua de Camões nº 57, next to Parque D. Carlos I, in the parish of Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, city and municipality of Caldas da Rainha, District of Leiria, in Portugal. It was opened on December 14, 1999 and brings together pieces related to the history of cycling in the country. It is managed by the Association for the Development of Cycling (ADC), integrated by the Municipality of Caldas da Rainha, the Portuguese Cycling Federation and Sporting Clube das Caldas. ADC also has the function of promoting cycling, disseminating the history of cycling through the promotion of the sport, collection of assets and historical record of cycling, technical and pedagogical training in the area of ​​cycling and the use of bicycles, dynamization of sports events, editions of publications in the velocipédica area, dissemination of history through the organization of exhibitions, colloquia and seminars, among others. The museum is coordinated by Mário Lino, a renowned name in the history and promotion of cycling, in the Municipality of Caldas. Since May 30, 2009, the Cycling Exhibition is on the 1st floor of the building. It is composed of documents dating from 1901 ("Cycloclub Caldense"), from I Porto-Lisbon (1911), from the first five events of the Volta a Portugal (1927 to 1934), and from contemporary personalities of cycling.

Pretty much the only interesting thing about Caldas aside from the Sunday market at Praça da Fruta. That being said, this museum is very specific: its focus is on early Portuguese Army bicycle brigades and the history of road cycling in Portugal. Everything is in Portuguese so I unfortunately can't say I learned anything (but I would've liked to). Definitely some neat relics on display, but hardly comprehensive in terms of cycling history. Also, the entire first floor was devoted to an exhibit on Portuguese cinema (also only in Portuguese) so the actual cycling portion takes 45 minutes or less to see.

É um pequeno museu gratuito mas onde somos acolhidos com entusiasmo e fomos acompanhados por uma pessoa verdadeiramente interessada no que faz. Além do ciclismo, também tem uma parte dedicada à história dos cineteatros da terra. Recomendo.

Vale a pena visitar a exposição permanente sobre ciclismo e se ainda tiver tempo, vá ver a exposição sobre a Linha do Oeste, aberta ao público até amanhã. Fotos, material ferroviário, documentos e maquetas à escala. Não perca!

Uma agradável surpresa de coleção