Natural Monument of the Dinosaur Footprints - Ourém / Torres Novas : info and guided tour

Introduction to Monumento Natural das Pegadas de Dinossáurios – Ourém / Torres Novas

Monumento Natural das Pegadas de Dinossáurios – Ourém / Torres Novas is a protected natural site located near Fátima in central Portugal. It is famous for its long fossilized dinosaur trackways, preserved in limestone layers visible in the open air. The site attracts both geology enthusiasts and those curious about natural heritage.

This natural monument was recognized for the scientific value of its footprints, which provide a rare record of the region’s prehistoric fauna. The tracks, imprinted in the rock, make it possible to observe the gait of large herbivorous dinosaurs. The site owes its renown to the quality of preservation of these footprints, among the most remarkable in Portugal.

The visit mainly highlights the rock slabs bearing the fossil trackways, which are explored while observing their direction, length, and arrangement. The whole site does not have the monumental character of a built structure, but rather that of a protected geological landscape, where reading the ground becomes the central element of the discovery.

Between Ourém and Torres Novas, this natural monument illustrates the paleontological richness of the region and the way in which a scientific site can become a tourist attraction. Its appeal lies in the meeting of field observation, the memory of ancient times, and a preserved natural setting, just a few kilometers from Fátima.

Discover Fátima with a private guide

A private guide can help you better understand the footprints visible on the site, their geological origin, and their place in the region’s natural history. They also provide useful insight into the local context around Fátima, making the visit clearer and richer without weighing down the experience.