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Casa das Pedras Grandes

Casa das Pedras Grandes is an old Portuguese dwelling built with local stone. It has been recently renovated and modernized, mixing traditional crafts and design with modern materials and technology, to make a comfortable and attractive home. For the comfort of our off season guests we have wood fired central heating, with radiators in all rooms. There is also a separate guest lounge and dining area, enclosed courtyard with pool and BBQ area.

A Laptop computer is provided, as a research and information tool for our guests to use, whether it be for property hunting or information to plan days out. It is also available to enable communication, via email, Skype or Windows messenger, for those that wish to contact Property agents or check on travel details. The dedicated Portuguese pay-as-you-go mobile phone, is for our guests to help keep costs down, when ringing Portuguese mobile or landline numbers.

If guests prefer not to drive, we can provide transport in our 5 seater combi van, for days or evenings out and to and from the local train station or airports. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Porto airport is approximately two hours to the north by road and to the south, Lisbon is two and a half hours.

The area around Casa das Pedras Grandes is just totally stunning. Tiny hamlets giving way to tree lined roads and small fields, with sitings of the occasional javali (wild boar). The trip to Lousã will take you along either the newly surfaced Gois road, with beautiful views down into the valley below or down small country lanes through clusters of traditional Portuguese houses, sitting comfortably next to new build villas. The surrounding countryside is a mixture of pine and scented eucalyptus forests, which cover the hills and mountains in a carpet of green.

Rivers wind through the valleys which provide swimming from the Praia fluvial (river beaches) in the summer, fishing and other water sports. Attractive villages and towns enable visitors to experience rural Portuguese life and the local cuisine. There are plenty of opportunities to exercise, both on foot and bicycle along the numerous cross country tracks. All are documented on Portuguese Military maps (similar in detail to English Ordnance Survey), of which we have a few.

A five minute drive to the NW is the village of Serpins, where there is a railway station with regular trains to Coimbra via Lousã and Miranda do Corvo. The train service is punctual, clean and reasonably inexpensive. A journey to Porto airport takes about 3 hours.

Lousã, is an attractive town, 15 minute drive to the SW and has all the facilities you would expect, including restaurants, bars, shops, two good size supermarkets, banks and medical centre etc. There is a small castle, river pool and access to the Serra da Lousã, a mountain range which is home to a vast array of wildlife and wild flowers which thrive on the forested slopes.

The castle sits on a wooded hillside with views over the valley and narrow gorge to the hermitage dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Piedade. From here there are various walks, which take you up to the abandoned schist villages, casualties of rural emigration in the 1950's, but are now being renovated and redeveloped. Down in the narrow gorge, a river pool is created in the summer for the hardy to take a dip in its chilly waters. There is also the popular Burgo Restaurant, for which it is worth making a reservation and a small cafe bar.

Half an hour's drive from Casa das Pedras Grandes is Coimbra, Portugal's third largest city and once it's capital. Home to Portugal's oldest and most prestigious university, it is sited on the hillside above the Rio Mondego. One of its most famous assets is the Baroque Library, a remarkable example of Baroque art and one of the most important European libraries of its day.

There is plenty to see and do in Coimbra, from visiting its many beautiful buildings, wandering around the narrow cobbled streets in the old part of the city. to shopping in its modern indoor shopping centres. There are bars, cafes and restaurants to cater for every taste and pocket. Coimbra has the feeling of a large town and in common with the rest of this region of Portugal, makes it's visitors feel safe and welcome.

The beautiful Atlantic coastline can be reached in just over an hour's drive and is famous for it's miles of sandy beach and water sports.

Whether you want to kick back and relax or go out and explore, there are many opportunities to do both within easy travelling distance.

For further information and more pictures, please visit our web site.