What's on here?
Côa Museum and Archaeological Educational Program
Côa Museum Thematic Visit
On this visit we will enter the Museum's rooms to: understand the geological formation of the Côa Valley; see the tools and raw materials discovered in the archaeological excavations; observe replicas of some of the engraved panels; use digital tools to get to know the Upper Paleolithic way of life, and the men and women who produced this magnificent heritage, inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Guided Visit to the Rock Art Sites
The visit to the rocks art panel is made by jeep, taking us to the Côa river valley bottom, and will be accompanied by a guide who will teach us the whole rock art context.
Experimental Archeology Workshop
In this workshop we are going to reproduce these men and women’s daily tasks, recreating the production and use of hunting weapons, fire production and rock art, on portable schist supports.
A part of the activities developed in this workshop is based on documentation produced in the context of the archeologic research carried out in the Côa Valley, namely through experimental work. and also comparing them to the present-day activities.
"The Magic Valley"
A puppet theater show, a different way of traveling through time, discovering and learning the magic of the various relevant historical ages in the Côa Valley, through characters from children's imagination.
We start with a family from the Upper Paleolithic and end up riding a Jeep to visit the rock art.
“Discovering the Côa Valley”
This game has two versions, a giant board game that can be used in the Aurochs room (the educational services room) or in places outside the museum, and a small board game, which can be used in any context. The game consists of a dice and cards with questions, and It will be accompanied by a written explanation of the rules. It may also be a just playful way of learning.
“Discovering Castelo Melhor with pen, paper and magnifying glass” paper chase
This activity aims to occupy free time between visits to Penascosa, while discovering the heritage and history of the village of Castelo Melhor. Playful learning has more lasting effects on the child, so a pedestrian walk, guided in a fun and relaxed way, will provide a much more meaningful visit.
The Guide Sheets are available online on our website, therefore, they can be printed to carry with you for the visit.
“Little Archeologists” Workshop
In this activity we will have an archaeological excavation module composed of a wooden box filled with sand, where a fictitious excavation will take place. We will define square units and then use the instruments commonly used during an archaeological excavation. What will we discover? A site with material remains from the men and women who made the rock art.
“Through stalk of memory” - The uses and customs of the Côa Valley trees and plants
This activity will allow you to know a little more about the regional flora, the customs and uses given to some of the most relevant plants in the Côa Valley, in its agricultural and economic aspects and the traditional uses in areas such as gastronomy and medicine. The workshop will allow handling the seasonally existing plants.
Visitor support services
The visitor support services include a set of activities that complement each other. Essentially, they are addressed to teachers who request support to prepare the visit in class. They allow a more detailed knowledge of the heritage to be visited, the itinerary and the archaeological context of the Côa Valley. Besides online consultation or e-mail support, the services provide a direct contact for information and supplies complementary materials.
To follow the Educational programs at the Côa Museum and Archaeological Park's, use this link.
Events & Exhibitions
In addition to all the other activities and visits presented above, the Côa Park Foundation organizes several exhibitions, inside and outside the Archaeological Park's intervention area, as well as cultural events.
Events
The Cultural Program of Côa Park Foundation is reflected in events that will combine cultural heritage with economy, leisure and knowledge, research and tourism, providing visitors with the discovery of the Côa valley.
National and international special dates are distinguish, highlighting the International Museum Day, the International Day for Monuments and Sites, the European Archeology Days, the European Heritage Days and the UNESCO World Heritage Classification of Paleolithic Rock Art in the Côa Valley.
During the summer, the Anniversary of the Côa Museum and the Anniversary of the Archaeological Park, are celebrated with dance, music and theater that will enrich the visitor's experience.
To follow the events at the Côa Museum, use this link.
Exhibitions
The Côa Museum is dedicated to the Côa Valley rock art and its archaeological context. From the projection of the Museum, spaces of excellence are dedicated to temporary exhibitions that, having exceptional characteristics, allow to receive exhibitions of any kind.
The Côa Park Foundation shows the timelessness of art and, therefore, dedicated most of the exhibitions to contemporary art, thus connecting the artists of our ancestors to the contemporary world, leading the visitor to reflect on the importance of artistic expression since the origin of humanity.
The 3 temporary exhibition rooms receive several exhibitions throughout the year, but the Foundation also has as line of action the divulgation of the art of the Côa through exhibitions that roam the region, as well as through strategic points of the country or on the international scene.
To follow the exhibitions at the Côa Museum, use this link.