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A stone house with a wooden staircase leading up to it, surrounded by greenery and a misty atmosphere. 1
A narrow stone alley with a red table and chairs, a wooden door, and a stone wall with a plaque. 2
A brick oven with two metal containers inside, surrounded by burning charcoal. 3
A stone building with a wooden gate, a cobblestone path, and a lamp post. 4
A person swinging on a wooden swing set on a mountain top with a view of distant hills and wind turbines. 5

From Coimbra: Journey to the Medieval Past of the Schist Villages of Lousã

By Viaje_portugal
10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
Free cancellation available
Price is €85 per adult* *Get a lower price by selecting multiple adult tickets
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 4h+
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Multiple languages

Overview

  • Explore the main schist villages closest to Coimbra
  • Return travel in an air-conditioned vehicle
  • Experienced local guide
  • Enjoy coffee and a local herbal liqueur in one of the villages
  • Full-day tour with a traditional local lunch included

Activity location

    • Coimbra
    • Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

Meeting/Redemption Point

    • Av. Emídio Navarro 21, 3000-150 Coimbra, Portugal | Right outside the Astoria hotel
    • Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

Check availability

Coimbra: Lousã's Schist Villages, half day

  • Activity duration is 4 hours4h
    4h
  • English

Check out 3 Schist Villages: Cerdeira, Candal, and Talasnal

Price details
€85.00 x 2 Adults€170.00
Total
Price is €170.00
Until Mon, 13 Jul

Coimbra: Lousã's Schist Villages, full day

  • Activity duration is 8 hours8h
    8h
  • English

Check out the villages of Cerdeira, Candal, Talasnal, and Casal Novo
We visited Arouce Castle, the natural beach, and the top of Trevim to swing on the swing.
Lunch will be served with local cuisine, chanfana (goat meat)

Starting time: 09:00
Price details
€132.00 x 2 Adults€264.00
Total
Price is €264.00
Until Mon, 13 Jul

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Pick-up and drop-off from Coimbra
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Air-conditioned vehicle
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Bottled water
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Coffee and “Beirão” liqueur
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Lunch with the full-day option
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Extras of a personal nature
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Service charge

Know before you book

  • Not suitable for: Wheelchair users
  • In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.

What you can expect

Journey to the Schist Villages of Serra da Lousã, a group of small shepherds' villages scattered throughout the mountains.

The half-day tour includes visits to three shale villages: Cerdeira, Candal, and Talasnal.
The visit begins in Cerdeira, located right in the heart of the mountains and renowned for its natural beauty. It is a place of artistic inspiration, centred around the School of Arts and Crafts, which promotes art and creativity in harmony with the surrounding tranquility and natural richness. The village has been perfectly rebuilt, with houses integrated into the landscape thanks to the reuse of schist stone, clay, and chestnut wood.
Next, the tour continues to the Schist Village of Candal, which is the best located, most developed, and most visited village, thanks to its easy accessibility. Nestled in the mountains on a south-facing hill, visitors can stroll through the narrow, steep streets and, from the viewpoint at the top, enjoy beautiful views over the valley.
We then descend to the Schist Village of Talasnal, the largest, best-preserved, and most charismatic village, set in a natural landscape that transports us into a magical world. Exploring the village along its narrow, steep hillside streets is a timeless experience. There are alleys to discover, stairs to climb or descend, and balconies to admire. Here, nature and the human hand come together.

The full-day tour, on the other hand, includes visits to the aforementioned villages of Cerdeira, Candal, and Talasnal, as well as Casal Novo, where the village's urban fabric is shaped by a steep upward/downward slope.
We will explore the area from end to end, visiting Arouce Castle and the natural beach of N.ª Sr.ª Piedade at the foot of the mountain, and then climbing to the highest point, Trevim, to swing on the popular Lousã swing.
Lunch, which is included, will be served at a traditional restaurant featuring a local speciality, chanfana (goat meat slowly cooked in a wood-fired oven). Other options are available if you do not care for this traditional dish.

We will return to Coimbra after this journey “back in time” to our rural past.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    • Coimbra
    • Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    • Av. Emídio Navarro 21, 3000-150 Coimbra, Portugal | Right outside the Astoria hotel
    • Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal