Municipal Albergue opens in Cucujães, Oliveira de Azeméis
On December 2, 2024, the Albergue Municipal de Peregrinos do Apeadeiro (Pilgrim’s Municipal Halt Albergue) was inaugurated. Located at the former Couto de Cucujães Train Station, on the Vouga line, this newly restored facility offers comfort and convenience to pilgrims traveling along the Caminos de Santiago and the route to Fátima as they pass through the parish of Cucujães, in the municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis.
With a capacity for 12 people across two floors, the albergue features amenities that allow pilgrims to rest and recover after the challenges of the journey. The facility will be managed by the Cucujães Delegation of the Portuguese Red Cross (CVP), with access granted electronically via a code provided by the organization.
The inauguration ceremony was held on-site, with the presence of Joaquim Jorge Ferreira, Mayor of Oliveira de Azeméis, alongside other dignitaries, including the President of the Cucujães Parish Council, the local parish priest, a representative of Infrastructures of Portugal (IP Património), the President of the Cucujães Delegation of the CVP, and the President of the Espaço Jacobeus Association. Joaquim Jorge Ferreira emphasized the significance of rehabilitating this space, once described as “a severely degraded train station”, into a facility that preserves the local community’s identity and collective memory.
The project required an investment of approximately 200,000 euros, co-financed with 139,055.47 euros by ADRITEM under the Leader|PDR 2020 program. The transformation, which took nearly four years to complete, was made possible through a partnership between the Oliveira de Azeméis City Council and Infrastructures of Portugal (IP Património), which granted the building to the municipality under a renewable 15-year concession. This new albergue addresses a longstanding issue of insufficient accommodations for pilgrims between Albergaria-a-Velha and Grijó, now allowing the route to be split into two more manageable stages of approximately 24.5 km and 25.5 km.
The Albergue do Apeadeiro is located along the Portuguese Central Route, a path where the number of pilgrims has been growing significantly. This section, certified by the government for its historical and cultural importance, spans 177.8 km across 13 municipalities, including 16 km within the municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis, from Pinheiro da Bemposta to Cucujães.
Location and contacts:
• Adress: Travessa da Estação do Caminho de Ferro, 3720-914 Cucujães, Oliveira de Azeméis (see map)
• Website: www.alberguedoapeadeiro.pt
• Email: alberguedoapeadeiro@gmail.com
• Social media: Facebook and Instagram
