Quinta das Brisas
City/town information
Alpedrinha is nicknamed the "Sintra da Beira" for its beauty. Explore the winding streets as you walk up to the beautiful Palácio do Picadeiro with its stunning views over the surrounding countryside.
Alpedrinha
Alpedrinha is nicknamed the "Sintra da Beira" for its beauty. Explore the winding streets as you walk up to the beautiful Palácio do Picadeiro with its stunning views over the surrounding countryside.
Castelo Novo is a beautiful stone-built village with an evocative ruined castle, plus a great river beach and bar in summer.
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Castelo Novo
Castelo Novo is a beautiful stone-built village with an evocative ruined castle, plus a great river beach and bar in summer.
Must sees include the old town leading up to the Templar castle, the bishops palace gardens and adjacent museum “Francisco Tavares Proença Júnior Museum” which showcases the heritage of the city throughout the centuries, and the Cargaleiro Museum, devoted to one of Portugal’s top ceramic artists)
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Castelo Branco
Must sees include the old town leading up to the Templar castle, the bishops palace gardens and adjacent museum “Francisco Tavares Proença Júnior Museum” which showcases the heritage of the city throughout the centuries, and the Cargaleiro Museum, devoted to one of Portugal’s top ceramic artists)
The “gateway to the Estrela”, this lively University city was founded on money from the wool trade. Discover this history at the Museu de Lanifícios. 14km away in the village of Pêraboa, you can discover another local craft at the Cheese Museum – Museu do Queijo. Covilhã is also home to the Serra Shopping Centre, with many Portuguese and international brands, while the city also offers good eating at a range of quality restaurants.
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COVILHA
The “gateway to the Estrela”, this lively University city was founded on money from the wool trade. Discover this history at the Museu de Lanifícios. 14km away in the village of Pêraboa, you can discover another local craft at the Cheese Museum – Museu do Queijo. Covilhã is also home to the Serra Shopping Centre, with many Portuguese and international brands, while the city also offers good eating at a range of quality restaurants.
A pretty historic town, situated in a glacial valley, the abundance of water gave rise to a woollen industry which integrates local sheep wool and craft skills, to make unique products. You can discover more at two working mills (with shops selling the products) at Ecola, established 1925, and Burel, founded in 1947.
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Manteigas
A pretty historic town, situated in a glacial valley, the abundance of water gave rise to a woollen industry which integrates local sheep wool and craft skills, to make unique products. You can discover more at two working mills (with shops selling the products) at Ecola, established 1925, and Burel, founded in 1947.
Monsanto (“the most Portuguese village in Portugal”): “Perched on a hilltop that oversees all the surrounding horizons, the village of Monsanto has a unique charm that has earned it two titles in the 20th century – the Most Portuguese Village in Portugal in 1938 and Historical Village in 1995.” The oldest part is also the highest point, where the Knights Templar built a castle which offers wide ranging views.
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Monsanto
Monsanto (“the most Portuguese village in Portugal”): “Perched on a hilltop that oversees all the surrounding horizons, the village of Monsanto has a unique charm that has earned it two titles in the 20th century – the Most Portuguese Village in Portugal in 1938 and Historical Village in 1995.” The oldest part is also the highest point, where the Knights Templar built a castle which offers wide ranging views.
Penha Garcia (castle, fossil walk, river beach)
“The winding and steep streets present many interesting examples of the traditional architecture of the village…Further up is the Castle, from where you can enjoy an unforgettable landscape, with a privileged view over the deep cut of the Ponsul valley, where the caster mills are, once the largest set in the entire county.”
Going down towards the river, you follow the Fossils Route, in the Naturtejo da Meseta Meridional Geopark , created under the auspices of UNESCO, which leads to the beautiful river beach of Pego.
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Penha Garcia
Penha Garcia (castle, fossil walk, river beach)
“The winding and steep streets present many interesting examples of the traditional architecture of the village…Further up is the Castle, from where you can enjoy an unforgettable landscape, with a privileged view over the deep cut of the Ponsul valley, where the caster mills are, once the largest set in the entire county.”
Going down towards the river, you follow the Fossils Route, in the Naturtejo da Meseta Meridional Geopark , created under the auspices of UNESCO, which leads to the beautiful river beach of Pego.
“Penamacor was one of the most important fortresses on the Portuguese frontier . The administrative genesis of the village dates back to the end of the 19th century. XII, when D. Sancho I grants the Charter to Penamacor in 1209.
Classified as a National Monument, the Castle or Fortaleza de Penamacor , understood as the entire walled area of the old medieval village , was one of the most powerful castles” and from the tower the views are incredible!
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Penamacor
“Penamacor was one of the most important fortresses on the Portuguese frontier . The administrative genesis of the village dates back to the end of the 19th century. XII, when D. Sancho I grants the Charter to Penamacor in 1209.
Classified as a National Monument, the Castle or Fortaleza de Penamacor , understood as the entire walled area of the old medieval village , was one of the most powerful castles” and from the tower the views are incredible!
Belmont (museums, castle)
A scenic town with a ruined castle, Belmont also has a collection of great museums: must visits are the Jewish museum, and the Museum of Discoveries.
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Belmonte
Belmont (museums, castle)
A scenic town with a ruined castle, Belmont also has a collection of great museums: must visits are the Jewish museum, and the Museum of Discoveries.
“Sortelha is one of the most beautiful and ancient Portuguese towns, having maintained its urban and architectural appearance unchanged from the Renaissance to the present day. Visiting the streets and alleys, enclosed by a defensive wall, and guarded by a towering castle from the 13th century, allows visitors to travel to distant centuries”
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Sortelha
“Sortelha is one of the most beautiful and ancient Portuguese towns, having maintained its urban and architectural appearance unchanged from the Renaissance to the present day. Visiting the streets and alleys, enclosed by a defensive wall, and guarded by a towering castle from the 13th century, allows visitors to travel to distant centuries”
Sightseeing
Discover mainland Portugal's highest point: Torre, in the Serra da Estrela, home of Portugal’s only ski slopes) but stop and take in the scenery and sites on the way! Torre is a great place to shop for local cheese, ham and woollen goods (the best socks!). There's also a good restaurant too.
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Torre
Discover mainland Portugal's highest point: Torre, in the Serra da Estrela, home of Portugal’s only ski slopes) but stop and take in the scenery and sites on the way! Torre is a great place to shop for local cheese, ham and woollen goods (the best socks!). There's also a good restaurant too.
Places for fun
“A leisure, wellness, sport and adventure space located in the municipality of Fundão, which offers a picnic area, tree climbing, climbing, maintenance circuit, bicycle rental, two MTB tracks (adults and children) and a bike point”
Parque Do Convento
83 N238“A leisure, wellness, sport and adventure space located in the municipality of Fundão, which offers a picnic area, tree climbing, climbing, maintenance circuit, bicycle rental, two MTB tracks (adults and children) and a bike point”
“Integrated in the sports complex of the Castelo Branco Motorized Sports Park , it has a track measuring 1200 meters (10 meters wide) with capacity for 34 karts on the starting grid” Prices start at €20 for 15 minutes.
Kartódromo Castelo Branco
“Integrated in the sports complex of the Castelo Branco Motorized Sports Park , it has a track measuring 1200 meters (10 meters wide) with capacity for 34 karts on the starting grid” Prices start at €20 for 15 minutes.
Tipps für Reisende
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In summer, cool off at the river beaches "praias fluviais"
- Castelo Novo (our closest)
- Lavacolhos (good for a proper swim)
- Souto da Casa (less good for swimming, but great for paddling and picnics)
- Unhais da Serra (good swimming & facilities, on edge of quaint village)
- Cortes do Meio (river beach by village is good for younger children, or if more adventurous head to the rocky pools of Poço do Funil - signposted from village)
- Paúl (good for older children)
- Penha Garcia (the river beach is called Pego). If you’re relatively fit, we recommend you walk there via the castle & fossil trail
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Explore our local markets
Markets
- Fundão market (outdoor and indoor) on Monday has pretty much everything you could ever want from a market, from food, to clothing, gifts, homewares, plants and livestock! On Saturday there is a smaller food-only market in the indoor market hall
- Organic market every Sunday in Alpedrinha. Selling fresh fruit & veg, cakes, sorbets, handcrafts and good food to eat there or takeaway
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Beautiful lakes for swimming, kayaking & relaxing
- Marateca (our nearest. No facilities but huge with lots of spots to park up by the water)
- Capinha (good if you like your water warmer. Cafe/bar on site)
- Idanha-a-nova (cool cafe/bar, kayaks for hire)
- Vale de Rossim (a day out. great for families. Cafe/bar/restaurant, kayak, Pedaloes and SUPs for hire)
- Lagoa Comprida (small bar/shop, otherwise uncommercialised)
- Meimão (recommended by friends although we haven’t tried it yet. Cafe and enclosed swimming area)
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There's a pool for every taste!
- Alpedrinha pool. Lovely (if refreshingly cool!) spring-fed swimming pool, with cafe. €12.50 for the day which includes loungers and parasol. Rarely busy. 10 minutes by car, 25 minutes by bike.
- Atalaia do Campo pool. Village swimming pool with cafe/bar. €2 entry and €1 for a beer! Recommended by local friends. 15 minutes by car, 20 minutes by bike. (Closed Monday AM)
- Other nearby village pools with lower entry prices include Orca and São Fiel.
- H2O hotel Aquadome: “ The Aquadome at Termas de Unhais da Serra, in the heart of Serra da Estrela Natural Park , is the first mountain spa in
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Local independent shops worth a visit
- Aldeia Sabão, Fundão: Organic soaps, beauty products and much more (closed August)
- Studio Indigo: handmade, vintage and upcycled. Great for unique gifts (open Monday and Friday)
- Tenda, Fundão: Clothing, homeware, Portuguese food, drink and soap!
- Terra Bio, Castelo Branco: for a wide range of organic produce, cosmetics, household products, etc
- Talho Sodavó, Fundão: Great butchers shop for meat and charcuterie
- Serra da Estrela shops up at Torre are great for buying local cheeses & charcuterie as well as woolly socks and sheepskin slippers!
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Shopping centres
- Alegro, Castelo Branco (shops, restaurants, cinema and bowling)
- Forum, Castelo Branco (shops, restaurants)
- Serra Shopping, Covilhã (shops, restaurants and cinema)
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Supermarkets
Supermarkets
Fundão & Castelo Branco both offer the choice of Continente, Lidl, Intermarché and Pingo Doce. Lidl is the best for organic fruit & vegetables, while Pingo Doce is great for fresh fish & meat. Fundão also has an Auchan in the Alegro shopping centre, which is good for foreign food such as curry sauces & marmite
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Explore the Serra da Gardunha mountains by bike or on foot
These are the mountains that you see from your bedroom window, which have many (marked and unmarked) tracks you can use to explore them on foot or by mountain bike. We offer a service whereby we drive you (and the bikes) to the highest point, and you can cycle down at your own pace, taking in the wonderful views, down to Castelo Novo where we collect you.
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Rainy day exploration
Although Portugal is famed for its sunshine, sometimes we do have rainy days here! Here's three recommendations for making the most of them:
- Visit Belmonte, where you can spend at least 2 hours exploring the Museu dos Descobrimentos, learning about Portuguese and Brazilian history, another hour in the fascinating Museu Judaico which explains the story of the "hidden Jews" of this area, and then enjoy a delicious lunch. We like O Brasão, a cosy local restaurant.
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Rainy day exploration 2
- Discover the old quarter of Castelo Branco. You may want an umbrella to move between the museums but they're close together. There's the art gallery Museu Cargaleiro, the Centro de Interpretação do Bordado de Castelo Branco (a small museum dedicated to revive the old tradition of embroidery in Castelo Branco), Museu Francisco Tavares Proença Jr. with its wonderful collection of local archeology and decorative arts. For a great meal in the old town, we like Cabra Preta
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Rainy day exploration 3
For shopping, visit the Serra Shopping centre in Covilhã for clothing, homeware and gift shopping from a range of international and Portuguese brands. There's a food hall for lunch, or for a treat, book a table (advised) at our favourite restaurants there, Taberna A Laranjinha or the restaurant at Casa das Muralhas (both have parking nearby)