tejo-ocreza

Tejo-Ocreza

tejo-ocreza

This is the smallest group, but also the most spread out. The proximity to the Alentejo plain can be felt in the landscape.

Region

The Tejo-Ocreza territorial unit is made up of four villages: Água Formosa, Figueira, Martim Branco and Sarzedas. The latter is the only Aldeia do Xisto attached to a noble title. It has the smallest number of villages but covers the most territory and has the greatest mix of building materials, showing early signs of the landscape transition between the Iberian plateau and the southern lowlands. In Água Formosa, despite the abundance of shale, the predominant building material is quartzite, however in Sarzedas, underneath the painted plasters and beautifully designed houses of grandiose volumes, which deep ties to history, schist and rammed earth are the most common. As in Martim Branco, which still includes pebbles from the stream in the masonry structures. In Figueira there is a building technique that distinguishes it from the other schist villages: many door jambs are irregular and, in some walls, we can see an atypical practice of laying the schist vertically. The back gardens are delimited by slabs of schist stuck vertically into the ground.

Rural charm

In these four villages you can still experience truly rural life. We are welcomed by the quietness, interspersed with the sound of water trickling over the stones of the stream beds. The wood-fired ovens still exude the warm aroma of freshly baked bread and evidence of farm animals can be found all over. In the surroundings, the well-kept vegetable gardens and the tilled farmland still attest to the presence of traditional know-how.

Geography

Here the Atlantic influence begins to wane to the Mediterranean climate. It is also here that the mountainous formations lose their majesty and give way to the planes, reminding us that the Alentejo is right next door. In a land of varied topography, high, low, narrow, wide, rounded, sharp, it is this kind of landscape, now wild now gentle, now barren, now wooded, which defines the Tejo-Ocreza region.

Portugal’s Geodetic Centre

It is in the territory of the Aldeias do Xisto, more specifically in the municipality of Vila de Rei, that we find the central point of the Portuguese mainland. It also has a museum space, a picnic area and a viewpoint.

Geopark Naturtejo

The Geopark Naturtejo of the Meridional Meseta was the first Portuguese geopark to be integrated in the International Network of UNESCO Geoparks in 2006. It covers 4616 km2, in the municipalities of Castelo Branco, Idanha-a-Nova, Proença-a-Nova, Nisa, Oleiros and Vila Velha de Ródão.

There are four geological monuments within the Aldeias do Xisto region:

Cágado de carapaça estriada

Chapim Azul

Erva Pinheira

Gonfos de Dente

Lagarto Verde

Borboleta do Medronheiro

explore

restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
restaurants
Quinta da Palmeira Restaurant
Quinta da Palmeira Restaurant
Cerdeira, Arganil
restaurants
Bem Me Quer
Bem Me Quer
Martim Branco
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
restaurants
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
restaurants
D. Sesnando Restaurant
D. Sesnando Restaurant
Penela
restaurants
João Brandão
João Brandão
Oliveira do Hospital
restaurants
Fugas Restaurant
Fugas Restaurant
restaurants
Safra Restaurant
Safra Restaurant
lodging
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casal Novo, Arganil
lodging
Mountain Whisper
Mountain Whisper
Gondramaz
lodging
Casa Lausus
Casa Lausus
Talasnal
lodging
Aldeia Oliveiras
Aldeia Oliveiras
Proença-a-Nova
lodging
Casa do Talasnal
Casa do Talasnal
Talasnal
lodging
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Caldas de São Paulo
lodging
Casas de Água Formosa
Casas de Água Formosa
Vila de Rei
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
lodging
Casa Cova do Barro
Casa Cova do Barro
Janeiro de Cima
tour
The Tagus Route - Souto Rest Area > Cabeça Gorda Rest Area - GRZ on Foot: Stage 4
The Tagus Route - Souto Rest Area > Cabeça Gorda Rest Area - GRZ on Foot: Stage 4
heritage
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
village
Martim Branco
Martim Branco
offer
Night Canoeing I Starlight Journey
Night Canoeing I Starlight Journey
offer
Astrofotografia no Observatório do Porto da Balsa - 30 de julho
Astrofotografia no Observatório do Porto da Balsa - 30 de julho
village
Comareira
Comareira
heritage
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
offer
Starlight Journey at the Geoscope (Fajão)
Starlight Journey at the Geoscope (Fajão)
tour
Mining Territory - Cabeço do Pião > Barroca - GRZ on Foot: Stage 2
Mining Territory - Cabeço do Pião > Barroca - GRZ on Foot: Stage 2
tour
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails  – Climbing the cliffs
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails – Climbing the cliffs
Casas do Rio
heritage
Chapel of São Sebastião
Chapel of São Sebastião
village
Benfeita
Benfeita

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