Schist Villages at Lousa Mountain
Description
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!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Cerdeira is a magical place. At the entrance to the village, a small bridge leads us to a handful of houses peeping through the foliage. It seems like we are crossing the portal to a fantasy world. Everything appears perfect in this deeply romantic setting. The slate path points the way to a spring hidden among lush vegetation. Between steep slopes rent by watercourses tumbling down from higher up, Cerdeira nestles in the most bucolic of surroundings. This is a village that art and creativity have helped to refound. Indeed, at certain times of the year, the village becomes alive with events that combine art and botany.
Benefiting from the ease of access provided by the National Highway, Candal is generally regarded as the most developed of the mountain villages and is one of the most visited. Its inhabitants are used to being joined by holiday and weekend visitors who flock here in search of pure air and good company.
Here nature reigns. For a long time now, this is the Schist Village of the Lousã Mountain that has lent most visibility and charm because of the many details of the restoration of its houses. And also by the way the village seduces us through the mouth.
Passing along the unpaved road, the presence of Casal Novo almost escapes us. The village lies in a fold on the steeply sloping, north-facing hillside and the woodland surrounding the village hides its outline.
Gondramaz is a completely restored shale village with about 50 houses where there is a tourist resort and where we will have a coffee.
Cadaval Cimeiro and Cadaval Fundeiro are two abandoned shale villages that burned twice in the 1980s. There we will hike between the two.
Aigra Velha is the highest altitude Schist Village (770 metres), not far from the summits of the Lousã Mountain, but easy to get to. It is a small place, but one with wide horizons. The landscape surrounding the village makes all the difference. Here everything is simple and done following the natural cycle of nature that is all around us. * - Only Full day tour.
ith its simple plan of low schist buildings, Aigra Nova consists of three small streets that cross the village. Its spring and the mild climate favour agriculture and broad pastures. In this living village there are market gardens, livestock, donkeys and many activities that will surprise the visitor. * - Only Full day tour.
This village is the perfect result of construction in a combination of schist and quartzite. A centuries-old chestnut guards the entrance to the village. * - Only Full day tour. The local topography dictated that the village developed along a promontory, making it seem that the houses are defying the laws of equilibrium and the force of gravity. The village of Pena takes full advantage of the crystal clear waters of the stream. Alongside it, the Penedos de Góis offer adventure for the daring.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pickup from most of the hotels in central Coimbra, Lousã, Miranda do Corvo, Condeixa-a-Nova and Penela if parking is available. We pickup clients for an additional fee (10€...20€) and also from other locations.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- A maximum of 10 people per booking
Reviews(131)
Gorgeous landscapes up in the mountains near Coimbra! Alfredo was an informed and pleasant guide who drove us the whole way, talking to us about the land, people, recent fire, how the villages are being transformed, etc. Definitely wear good outdoor shoes (not sandals) to climb all the staircases (as many or little as you want) to explore the winding pathways of the villages. We stopped in a little cafe up there, also at an artists shoppe, and were completely on time of four hours. Excellent pictures taken and a reprieve from the museums, buildings, traffic, tourists in town. Lovely!
The experience visiting the schist villages was incredible. What a spectacular day. Each of the 3 villages we visited was a little different so we got a good variety. Our guide, Alfredo, was delightful and full of local knowledge to help us understand the area and the history of the villages.
We had an enjoyable morning touring the Schist Villages with our guide Alfredo. Alfredo was very knowledgeable about the region and its history. He was also good navigating the steep and windy roads! The villages are stunning and a look into how past peoples lived and of course many of the cottages are being restored and are able to be rented. We stopped at our final village and ordered espresso and the local liquor before heading back to Coimbra. Fun morning!
What an absolutely AMAZING day exploring the Schist Villages! 🏡✨ I had the most wonderful guide, Veado Verde - incredibly knowledgeable, super friendly, and genuinely passionate about the region. He shared so many fascinating stories, history, and local insights that I never would have discovered on my own. But what made it truly special was how personalized everything felt. It honestly seemed like the entire tour was customized just for me, at my pace and based on what I was most interested in. The villages themselves are stunning, peaceful, and full of character — like stepping back in time. I’m so grateful for such a memorable experience and highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. A perfect day from start to finish! 💛
Alfredo offered us a rich history and the current activity of the Schist villages and gave us time to explore each one at our own pace over the course of the morning and afternoon. We vicariously enjoyed his warm connection with people wherever we went. It was good to stop for a local snack and lunch together. Alfredo is also skilled in spotting wild animals. The area is so beautiful and we were happy that he was doing the driving and not us!
Very unique experience with a knowledgeable guide. Highly recommend the 1/2 day experience for anyone with time to explore the region in more depth.
We loved our Schist Village tour with Alfredo. It was such an interesting day learning of all the history here. Learning that they are trying to restore these historical buildings made us happy to hear. If you want to visit somewhere other than the typical tourist areas and like to see and feel history, this is the tour you are looking for. Make sure you wear sturdy walking shoes, you’ll be traveling the paths generations from the past built.
Loved visiting the villages. Alfredo was a great guide with lots of interesting information about the villages. Also, he was very patient with us regarding my mix-up with the pick-up point.
Alfredo (with Veado Verde/Green Deer) gave us an excellect, relaxed tour of three Schist villages. Very knowledgeable and charming. Great views and we are glad we included this excursion during our stay in Coimbra.
Alfredo was very knowledable and personable. He clearly has a passion for this region and did his best to showcase it. For the hospitality, information, and the sites, the excursion was an excellent value. The villages were an interesting change from the cities we had been visiting. He explained that these villages were all nearly or completely abandoned before being revitalized for tourism. Though you're not seeing 100% "natural" villages, they are not overtly touristy for the most part, so don't let that stop you. Afterall, if it weren't for tourism, you'd likely not be seeing them at all, or you'd just be seeing ruins. He had to take us to some "alternate" villages do to road closures after recent wildfires. This may have been a benefit afterall, as Vaqueirinho is not on the itinerary and might have been the most interesting to me. You might consider asking him if he recommends stopping there in place of one of the others. It showed the least signs of tourism (not counting Cadaval Cimeiro, which is still very much a ruin) . Talasnal was easily the most touristy of those we visited, but still charming. The tasty liquours and pastries, and the excellent panaramic views to and from the village, made it very worthwhile. Gondramez was between the two in terms of a tourist feel, not counting the resort with pool at the far end of the village.
