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
Callum
Callum
Oleiros
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
restaurants
Fiado
Fiado
Janeiro de Cima
restaurants
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
restaurants
Fugas Restaurant
Fugas Restaurant
restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
restaurants
Bem-Me-Quer
Bem-Me-Quer
Martim Branco
restaurants
Varanda do Casal
Varanda do Casal
Casal de São Simão
restaurants
Casa da Ti Augusta
Casa da Ti Augusta
Figueira
lodging
Aldeia Oliveiras
Aldeia Oliveiras
Proença-a-Nova
lodging
Casa Cova do Barro
Casa Cova do Barro
Janeiro de Cima
lodging
Casas de Água Formosa
Casas de Água Formosa
Vila de Rei
lodging
Casa Lausus
Casa Lausus
Talasnal
lodging
Casa do Talasnal
Casa do Talasnal
Talasnal
lodging
Mountain Whisper
Mountain Whisper
Gondramaz
lodging
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Caldas de São Paulo
lodging
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casal Novo, Arganil
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
offer
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
village
Ferraria de São João
Ferraria de São João
village
Sobral de São Miguel
Sobral de São Miguel
offer
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
village
Figueira
Figueira
heritage
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
tour
Under the Sign of Cabril - Felgueiras Rest Area > Álvaro - GRZ on Foot: Stage 3
Under the Sign of Cabril - Felgueiras Rest Area > Álvaro - GRZ on Foot: Stage 3
heritage
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
tour
Mining Territory [GRZ - MTB sector 3]
Mining Territory [GRZ - MTB sector 3]
tour
Irrigating Cova da Beira [GRZ - MTB Sector 2]
Irrigating Cova da Beira [GRZ - MTB Sector 2]
offer
Night Canoeing on the Santa Luzia Dam
Night Canoeing on the Santa Luzia Dam
heritage
Church of São Bartolomeu
Church of São Bartolomeu

next events

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Exhibition "Living the Interior"
Exhibition "Living the Interior"
13 sep 2024 - 13 oct 2024, 10:00
Proença-a-Nova
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XX Chestnut Festival
XX Chestnut Festival
12 oct 2024 - 13 oct 2024, 21:00
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III Festival das Sopas
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13 oct 2024, 12:00
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15 oct 2024 - 30 nov 2024, 10:00
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Festival do Achigã em Vila de Rei
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18 oct 2024 - 27 oct 2024
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AXTrail na Serra da Lousã
18 oct 2024 - 20 oct 2024, 10:00
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Festival Gastronómico Sabores de Outono
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18 oct 2024 - 27 oct 2024, 11:00
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