The High-Performance Center of Pocinho, designed by the architect Álvaro Fernandes Andrade and located in the municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, was the winner of the Douro Architecture Prize. The award was presented on Tuesday by the Minister of Culture, Luís Filipe Castro Mendes, during a ceremony held in São João de Tarouca, at the time of International Monuments and Sites Day.

 In addition to the Rock Engravings and the Douro Wine Region, Vila Nova de Foz Côa now has one more reason to visit, this time directed to the athletes. The High-Performance Center of Pocinho (CAR) brings together "exceptional conditions" for the preparation of champions in national and international sport.

The construction of the Pocinho dam, along the course of the Douro river, has created one of the best water plans in the world for rowing and canoeing. This is a reality confirmed by the various national and international athletes of Olympic level who have been looking for this place for training in recent years.

The President of the Republic said yesterday that the High Income Center of Pocinho is much more than a sports complex and that it should play an important role in education and training. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa goes further, considering that the equipment he inaugurated is an example of internationalization and of combating regional inequalities.

The High-Performance Center (CARR) of Pocinho, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, won the 2016 National Real Estate Prize in the category of Collective Equipment", the chamber said on Friday.

In a statement, the municipality said that the prize was awarded to that equipment selected from a total of 17 projects finalists to the 2016 National Real Estate Prize, which distinguishes reference buildings in Housing, Tourism, Offices and Collective Equipment.