Oeste (intermunicipal community)

Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste is an administrative division of Portugal, located on the country's West and Tagus Valley. The population in 2011 was 362,540, in an area of. Caldas da Rainha serves as the seat of Oeste.
The law establishing the framework for intermunicipal communities and metropolitan areas was approved by the Assembly of the Republic on 27 August 2008. On 25 November 2008, the Associação de Municípios do Oeste, by the approval of the municipal assemblies of each of its constituent municipalities, converted itself into the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste. The law formally establishing the names, borders, and duties of the intermunicipal communities and metropolitan areas was approved by the Assembly of the Republic on 12 September 2013.
Oeste is the successor to Associação de Municípios do Oeste and Comunidade Urbana do Oeste, which had been instituted on 29 March 2004.
Oeste is coterminous with the statistical NUTS 3 within the NUTS II of Oeste e Vale do Tejo.
The Oeste region is characterised by a coastal and rural influence. Horticulture is particularly important, especially the pear Rocha, the Alcobaça apple and the Óbidos and Alcobaça sour cherry.
Surfing, beaches, monumental heritage and geology make tourism an important economic activity in the region.

Municipalities

Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste is made up of twelve municipalities: