Nature & adventure
Portas do Almourão
Next to the village of Foz do Cobrão, in the valley fitted around Ocreza river, under the shade of olive trees that cover the hills, you can find the Portas do Almourão.
Heritage
Sto António da Neve
In the old Cabeço do Bereiro, Coentral parish, council of Castanheira da Pera, there exists a chapel honouring St. António. As it was built on the orders of Julião Pereira de Castro who was the crown’s responsible for preserving ice, therefore the chapel came to be known as St. António da Neve – St. Anthony of the Snow.
In the past, as snow fell, it was gathered up and stored in specific places where it transformed to snow. When the well was full, the snow was covered with straw and fern, to store it until the summer. The wells were built facing east so that the sun wouldn’t melt the snow. When warm weather came, ice was cut and it was transported in big blocks to the royal courts of Lisbon so that the kings and their court could eat ice cream in the summer. Transporting them was done by dragging them on carts to Constância and, from there, on boats to Lisbon, where they were delivered to Café Martinho da Arcada. The network of Aldeias do Xisto has re-created this tradition, as it was done in the past.
Food
Talasnicos
They melt in your mouth with delicate nuances of honey and chestnut. They are the Talasnicos, small traditional cakes born in Talasnal, one of the Schist Villages of Lousã. Despite the fame and many copying attempts, the original recipe lives only at the hands of Mirita Santos. It's in the Talasnico Shop that you can find traditional liquors from fig, raspberries and acorn; also wild berry jams, and the chestnut syrup which you can eat like a dessert, together with fresh cream; you may also find the tea selection of Planta do Xisto (Cerdeira) and a range of local arts & crafts.
Accommodation
Vilar dos Condes
In Vilar Cimeiro, near Álvaro, Oleiros council, you'll find Vilar dos Condes. The houses nested in each other state the value of traditional architecture and the good taste in decorating. It's a group of six houses, independent, totally equipped, with a capacity for a total of 20 people. These are the Pátio, Caniço, Lagar, Eira, Forno and Camélia houses. Surrounded by a lush landscape where the peace of simple things is the rule, like the aroma of plants or the nuances of the sky. Vilar dos Condes is a true shelter of silence.
Local products
Atelier da Cerdeira, de Kerstin Thomas
The Schist Village of Cerdeira, in Lousã, is a magical place. There you can find the Cerdeira studio, from the artist Kerstin Thomas, who fills the nearby streets with wood carving sounds. From her skilled hands pieces of art come to life, made out of wood and schist, with surprising originality, and a profound connection to her natural and cultural surrondings. Highlights of her product portfolio are the eternal calendars, wooden mountain figures, miniature schist houses and many other undefinable decorative items.
Culture and tradition
Offerings of Janeiro de Cima
The legend goes that, in the 18th Century, the village of Janeiro de Cima (Fundão) was saved from an epidemic by the image of S. Sebastian. To this day, always on the same day, on the 20th of January, the villagers from Janeiro de Cima celebrate this divine protection with a feast that has kept its identity throughout the times. In the Bodo of Janeiro de Cima breads are offered and wine, to cast away disease and celebrate tradition.
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