Schist Villages

Rated 5 Stars, based on 112 Reviews.

The Veado Verde / Green Deer challenges you to live an experience in the Lousa Mountain. Come with us and visit the beautiful and picturesque Schist Villages of Lousa Mountain. We will pass thru forests of pines, chestnut trees, oaks and beeches where we can find deer, wild boars, foxes and squirrels. It´s a wonderful and rewarding experience that includes offroad activities, hiking and visiting the shale villages.  It's a 4 hour tour (or 8 hour tour) with Coimbra as the pickup point. Get ready, the beauty of this mountain will leave you amazed! IMPORTANT: Feel safe, we have the "Clean & Safe" seal from Turismo de Portugal!

Rated 5 Stars, based on 273 Reviews.

Explore the magnificent mountains surrounding Porto on this exciting off-road adventure. Feel the adrenaline of driving a buggy for 3 hours along rocky paths and incredible landscapes in the Serras do Porto Natural Park. This tour is a unique and exciting way to discover new places and go places that would not be possible with a normal car. With a visit to the Roman ruins of Castro Mozinho and the charming preserved village of Quintandona and a visit to the "Rally de Portugal" Shakedown, fun is guaranteed.

Rated 5 Stars, based on 34 Reviews.

Travel to the Schist Villages of Serra da Lousã, a group of small villages of shepherds spread across the mountains. The visit begins at the Village of Cerdeira, right in the heart of the mountains. It is a place of artistic inspiration based on the School of Arts and Crafts that promote art and creativity in line with the silence and the surrounding natural wealth. We continue through the Village of Candal. Nestled in the mountains on a hill facing south, the visitor walks through the narrow, steep streets and from the top of the viewpoint contemplates the beautiful views over the valley. The Village of Talasnal, the largest and best preserved. Discovering the village through the narrow, steep streets of the hillside is timeless. We return to Coimbra after this journey "in time" to our rural ancestor.

Rated 5 Stars, based on 75 Reviews.

The villages of Shale have already been dubbed "magical villages," their names sound like Romans, Arabs and even barbarians, but it is their characteristic appearance that makes them so fantastic. These structures dating back to medieval times emanate an architectural beauty that is still difficult to match today, even more fascinating are the places where they find themselves by necessity of fixation for pastoral and agricultural activities. During this adventure we will take you to know some of the most beautiful villages of Shale of Serra da Lousã as well as the sweeping landscapes that this unique place has to offer …

On this tour of Açor Mountain we invite participants to a rural experience where nature is queen. After pick up in Coimbra we head towards the Historic Village of Piódão. We get lost walking through the steep and narrow labyrinthine streets where we are easily surprised by the architectural beauty of every corner. At lunchtime, we suggest a typical restaurant to taste the local delicacy, the Chanfana. On the way back to Coimbra, in the Protected Area of Mata da Margaraça, we walked for a while to realize the biodiversity of the abundant spontaneous vegetation in the forest. We also include a visit to the Fraga da Pena waterfall. Right next door, we also visit the Schist Village of Benfeita and after walking through the charming village, we head towards the starting point, in Coimbra.

Rated 5 Stars, based on 8 Reviews.

Schist villages have already been dubbed “magic villages”, their names sound like Romans, Arabs and even barbarians, but it is their characteristic appearance that makes them so fantastic. These structures, which date back to medieval times, emanate an architectural beauty that is still difficult to match today, even more fascinating are the places where they are found due to the need to settle for pastoral and agricultural activities. During this adventure, we will take you to discover some of the most beautiful Schist villages in Serra da Lousã, as well as the breathtaking landscapes that this unique place has to offer… In the afternoon we will visit Penacova, the village “where Nature lives”, where “you can breathe good air”, a place that awaits you and where the Mondego river will guide you! Follow and listen to the melody of the waters of the River Mondego and the River Alva, feel the “good air” of Penacova contouring your face and discover windmills and watermills while the green mountains will accompany you.

Rated 5 Stars, based on 41 Reviews.

In this adventure we will discover some of the most iconic shale villages and waterfalls in central Portugal! We started our trip with a wonderful view of the Mont'Alto Sanctuary. Then, we leave in the direction of Coja where we can relax on its river beach before the mountain paths take us to the village of Benfeita and the waterfall of Fraga da Pena with its imposing 20 meters high. To end in beauty, nothing like visiting the best-known schist village in the country – Piódão…. For the more adventurous we still have 2 more places to discover, Foz d’Égua the enchanted village and Poço da Broca where the waters demonstrate the power of nature…

Schist villages have already been called “magic villages”, their names sound like Romans, Arabs and even barbarians, but it is their characteristic appearance that makes them so fantastic. These structures dating back to medieval times exude an architectural beauty that is still difficult to match today, even more fascinating are the places where they are located due to the need to settle for pastoral and agricultural activities. During this adventure we will take you to know some of the most beautiful schist villages of Serra da Lousã as well as the breathtaking landscapes that this unique place has to offer… It includes a jeep ride through the Lousã mountain range and a visit to the beautiful Schist villages in the morning and a walk of about 6 km and an intermediate level of difficulty in the afternoon along some of the most beautiful trails in the mountain.

What better way to learn more about the architectural traditions of a schist village than to build one yourself? In this creative experiment, we’re going to discover the patterns and building rules that are used in these houses, creating our own miniature schist house. In a journey to the past, bring a special memory of Cerdeira home with you. All creatives experiences in Cerdeira link traditional techniques with a modern approach.

Despite the vestiges of human presence dating all the way back to the prehistoric era, it is only during the Medieval Ages that populations started to settle on this territory. From a count of 27 historic villages that make part of the “Schist Villages Network”, our visit will focus mainly on two of them – Candal and Talasnal – which contain constructions dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. These are located at the Lousã Mountain, a few kilometers away from the city of Coimbra!

Discover the history and heritage of the region on a day trip from Coimbra, visit some of the most beautiful Schist Villages in the region and two of the most important castles in the region. Learn about the history and heritage of the Coimbra region by visiting the best unknown places, true treasures located around the city. This private tour will take you to explore the Villages, get lost between nature and schist and learn about the details that allow you to imagine what life was like for the inhabitants in the past. Discover the habits and customs that persist over time and lose yourself in the beauty of these stunning Villages. In between, you will also learn more about the history of Portugal past civilizations as we visit two of the most important Medieval Castles in Coimbra, military instruments that still remain after centuries. Start your tour from the city, I will contact you beforehand so that we can choose a place to collect. If you have look some wild animals may say hi!

During your Ballooning Experience you will see that Alentejo Monsaraz is as diverse as its incomparable beauty. To the north the landscape is marked by the green of fertile fields than further south the landscape merges with the heat of the sun, the golden cornfields and the shade of the oaks and olive trees.  Travel according to the wind’s whim.  The charm of the schist walls and streets of the medieval villages of Monsaraz, the fullness of the Alqueva dam’s waters. Alentejo will fall for this region on every corner.

Journey to the rural world, natural country side with tasting of local products. We traveled through the Serra da Lousã, very close to and around Coimbra, in search of ancient customs, rural routines, we enjoyed the local gastronomy, we admired the mountain villages of Cerdeira, Candal, Talasnal and Casal Novo built with schist stone. We will go to extremes, visit Arouce Castle and the natural beach Nª Srª Piedade at the foot of the mountain and climb to the highest point of Trevim to balance on the popular Lousã swing. Lunch will be served in a typical restaurant with local cuisine, chanfana (goat meat cooked slowly in a wood-fired oven). There are other options if you don't like this typical dish. To end the day, there will still be space for a tasting of PDO sheep and goat cheese, olive oil, bread and wine in the cheese capital, Rabaçal. After visits and tastings, we return to the starting point.

1. Daily itineraries and scenic spots are the most popular places for tourists from Taiwan to Taiwan. 2. Guided tour and explanation, assisted in taking pictures. 3. Give each tourist NT $ 2 million Ping An Insurance to travel in Taiwan. 4. The car is equipped with mineral water, rain gear, mobile phone charging equipment, WIFI sharing.

Guided tour in a vehicle with driver/guide through places of greatest natural interest, human and cultural aspects of Serra da Lousã. Includes visit to Lousã Castle, three Schist Villages of Serra da Lousã (Talasnal, Candal and Cerdeira), Trevim (highest point of Serra da Lousã), Santo António da Neve and Neveiros Reais (formerly Real 19th century Ice Factory. XVIII), passing through places of rare beauty, such as centuries-old chestnut trees, deciduous forests and conifers and breathtaking viewpoints.

Serra da Lousã is known for its "magical villages" of schist but it is not only its stone houses that are magical. This off-road tour will take you to the discovery of its oak, chestnut and pine forests where noble creatures and magical silhouettes inhabit the Deer. Among the forests where these majestic beings inhabit we will also take you to observe and know smaller species, but no less important for the ecosystem, which gave us their unique colors and look… Come with us on this adventure, the Serra da Lousã Nature awaits you.

On this tour, you'll have the opportunity to visit Lousã and the magical schist villages along its surrounding mountains. Breathtaking views and nature at its finest are constant here, and with some luck, you might find some wild animals in their natural habitat. Besides that, Tugabuddies is a sightseeing tour agency that has been creating and delivering customized tours through the Center and West of Portugal (and a few other stunning places) since April 2016. We focus on carefully preparing each experience to meet all customer’s expectations and tastes. Our team’s work is based on the passion we all share for our home country, Portugal, but also on knowledge, experience and a great will to serve with care and quality. We won’t just be your tour guide; we will be Your Portuguese Best Friend!

Embark on a private tour of Foz Côa and Pinhão and discover the breathtaking beauty of the Douro Valley. You'll start by exploring the world-famous Archaeological Park of Foz Côa, where you'll discover some of the most impressive rock art in the world. You will be amazed by the intricate details and well-preserved paintings that date back to the Upper Paleolithic period. After exploring the park, you'll head to Pinhão, the heart of the Douro Valley, where you'll discover the region's famous vineyards and taste the delicious wines they produce. You will have the opportunity to visit some of the most prestigious wineries and learn about traditional winemaking techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation. As you travel through the valley, you will be mesmerized by the breathtaking landscapes and charming villages that dot the countryside. With your private guide, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of this enchanting region.

Embark on a journey through Casal de São Simão, Candal, Casal Novo, and Talasnal, and unlock the secrets of Portugal's hidden treasures. Discover the enchanting charm of Casal de São Simão, Candal, Casal Novo, and Talasnal – a quartet of picturesque villages nestled in the heart of Portugal. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry, timeless architecture, and breathtaking natural beauty that define these hidden gems. As you embark on a journey through this captivating region, let the unique character of each village unfold before you. Whether you're captivated by historical charm, enchanted by natural landscapes, or seeking a retreat from the bustling world, these villages offer a unique and unforgettable experience. Join us in celebrating the beauty of simplicity and the allure of these hidden gems, waiting to be explored by the curious traveler.

Serra da Lousã is known for its “magic villages” of schist but it is not just its stone houses that are magical. In this walk of about 18 km and 900 m of positive difference, we will take you to discover its forests of oak, chestnut and pine trees, always accompanied by water courses and waterfalls. Along this walk we will visit several schist villages where we will take you to imagine what it would be like to live in this summer refuge for shepherds and farmers. Come with us on this adventure, the nature of Serra da Lousã awaits you.