Loulé

Loulé, which was inhabited by the Romans, has preserved a few remnants from the walls of its Moorish castle. It is a large horticulture and handicraft centre and an important distribution point for produce and products from the mountain villages.
The surrounding countryside is covered with algarroba, almond, fig and olive trees.
Loulé is situated landinward, the nearest beaches can be found between Quarteira and Faro at 13 km.

Loulé is an important rural administrative and active market town with more than 20.000 residents. The weekly fair is attracting tourists from all along the Algarve. And the annual Carnival in February is considered one of the best in Portugal.

The earth quake in 1755 has destroyed, like in most other towns in the Algarve, most of the historic buildings. Today you can only see some remains of the Arab castle and the Gothic Church of S. Clemente.