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Highlights

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Suggested routes

Lousã Route
The Lousã Mountain chain is located in Cordilheira Central and comprises of the councils of Louçã, Góis, Castanheira de Pêra, Miranda do Corvo and Figueiró dos Vinhos. It’s a mountain range that links in a unique way the cultural and human aspects of the Aldeias do Xisto, with the nature and recreation possibilities that its landscape provides. It’s home to deers, boars and roebucks that peek through chestnut trees, oaks and, of course, pine trees. It’s crossed by numerous paths and by walkways that take us to St. António da Neve, to Alto do Trevim, to the castle of Lousã or to Sra. Da Piedade… and, of course, to river beaches.

Coimbra route
This route covers 11 Schist Villages and takes us on a discovery of wonderful areas of this region, such as the protected area of the Açor Mountain range, the intriguing curves of river Zêzere, in its complexity with the villages and the lush landscape of the Lousã mountain where the deer are hiding. In this route we discover that the Schist Villages can also be white, that its heritage says more about Portuguese history than meets the eye, that its ancient traditions are reinvented at the wise hands of craftsmen and that the flavour of traditional cooking still is what it used to be. And you needn't do the whole tour in one day: take your time to feel the comfort of superb accommodation and get to know the people while taking part in their traditions.

Schist Villages covered
Benfeita > Barroca > Janeiro de Cima > Janeiro de Baixo > Álvaro > Pedrógao Pequeno > Pena > Aigra Velha > Aigra Nova > Comareira > Fajão