Bombarral | |
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 The view from the Serra de Montejunto, overlooking Bombarral | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Interactive map of Bombarral | |
  Bombarral Location in Portugal | |
| Coordinates:39°16′5″N9°9′19″W / 39.26806°N 9.15528°W /39.26806; -9.15528 | |
| Country |  Portugal |
| Region | Oeste e Vale do Tejo |
| Intermunic. comm. | Oeste |
| District | Leiria |
| Parishes | 4 |
| Government | |
| • President | José Manuel Vieira |
| Area | |
• Total | 91.29 km2 (35.25 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 34 m (112 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 13,193 |
| • Density | 144.5/km2 (374.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (WEST) |
| Postal code | 2540 |
| Area code | 262 |
| Patron | São Pedro |
| Website | http://www.cm-bombarral.pt/ |
Bombarral (Portuguese pronunciation:[bõbɐˈʁal]ⓘ) is aPortuguese municipality in theOeste region, historical province ofEstremadura, and theLeiria district. The population in 2011 was 13,193,[1] in an area of 91.29 square kilometres (35.25 mi2).[2] It includes four civil parishes (Portuguese:freguesia) that provide local services.
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It is known that the area of Bombarral was occupied during the geological period, and there exist vestiges of human settlement throughout the municipality, including pre-historic remnants inGruta Nova,Lapa do Suão and theNeolithic fortifications ofColumbeira and theCastro de São Mamede.[3]
Most documented references to Bombarral begin in the 14th century, when the area was under the dominion of theMonastery of Alcobaça.
With the creation of Portugal, KingAfonso Henriques donated the lands toCistercian monks, around 1153.[3] Before, theBattle of Aljubarrota KingJohn of Portugal stayed in Bombarral with his Knight, Luís Henriques, in the strong-house that would later be converted into the municipality's council hall.[3]
In the 18th century it was recognized as"Queens lands", and part of the municipality ofCadaval until 1852. During thePeninsular War, 15000 Anglo-Portuguese troops confronted a much smaller army of French infantry and cavalry (5000 total) inRoliça in the first engagement by British forces.[3] TheBattle of Roliça, along the northern frontier with Óbidos, was a confrontation between English GeneralArthur Wellesley and French GeneralHenri François, Comte Delaborde, who were sent by GeneralJean-Andoche Junot, to harass and hold British forces until a much larger force could confront the English. The valleys and gullies of Roliça allowed the small French contingent to confront the much larger British force, yet they were unable to defeat them. Although successful, Wellesley did not press the fleeing French troops (who withdrew to Montachique near Torres Vedras), and instead went to support the landing of 4000 troops arriving from England along the coast.
The railway connecting Bombarral toLisbon andLeiria came in 1887, starting a period of accelerated economic development.
Until 1914, Bombarral was a parish of the municipality of neighbouringÓbidos. The present-day municipality was created that year.
Bombarral is situated in a privileged geographic region in the extreme southern part of the District of Leiria, in the centre of Western Tourist Region (Portuguese:Região de Turismo do Oeste), 75 kilometres from Lisbon and 20 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean. The municipality is limited to the north by the municipalities ofÓbidos, to the northeast byCaldas da Rainha, southeast byCadaval and west byLourinhã.
Bombarral is situated on an alluvial plain that is fertile, with a gentle topography of lowlands.
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 4 civil parishes (freguesias):[4]
The A8 is the primary thoroughfare connecting Bombarral with its neighbours.
Bombarral istwinned with:
The base of economic activity is agriculture with vineyards predominating, although several crops are routinely rotated within the fields of the municipality.
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