Serra da Lousã – Places to visit

1. Castle of Lousã
We can find Lousã Castle in the small village of Arouce, nowadays disappeared, 2km away from the center of Lousã, on the bank of the river Arouce. The first document referring to the place name Arouce (“Arauz”) dates from 943 and consists of a contract between Zuleima Abaiud and the Abbot of the Lorvão Monastery.

2. Fábrica do Liquor Beirão
Known as “The Liquor of Portugal”, Liquor Beirão includes rosemary, cinnamon, eucalyptus, orange and imported ingredients from Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and others. You can drink it fresh or with ice, associated with caipirinha (“caipirão”) or the recipes of sweets.

3. Serra da Lousã
The Serra da Lousã is a unique territory of biodiversity that covers five counties: Lousã, Miranda do Corvo, Góis, Figueiró dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera. Along with the Serra do Açor and Serra da Estrela, the Serra da Lousã is part of the Central Cordillera.
There are many Aldeias do Xisto that keep on its inhospitable slopes: Aigra Nova and Aigra Velha, Candal, Casal de São Simão, Casal Novo, Cerdeira, Chiqueiro, Comareira, Ferraria de São João, Gondramaz, Pena and Talasnal.
4. Talasnal
We can find the village of Talasnal with its typical shale houses on the slopes of the Serra da Lousã, about 500 meters high.
In some periods of the year, there are establishments such as restaurant, regional sweets store and liquors, and handicraft shop. In the restaurant “Ti Lena” we can enjoy, under reserve, regional dishes and sweets: Cabrito roasted, Chanfana, Licor Beirão Pudim, among others.
Life in Talasnal is simple: you breathe clean air, there is time for everything and you live with nature. You can hike along the mountain tracks, and eventually you can see deer, bucks, boars and other abundant species in the Serra da Lousã.

5. Candal
Without using maps, we easily reached the Candal by EN236. The running water of Ribeira de S. João will probably be the only sound you will hear. Here there is not a house that stands out, the stone house is a single, spiked on the slope of the Serra da Lousã, with encavalitados houses, superimposed, embedded, camouflaged in nature.
An architectural ensemble that seems to reflect the village’s communal identity: in Candal there is a shop run by local artisans (Shack Villages), outdoor movie nights in the summer, olive oil press and washing machine. Unlikely streets, alleys, and alleys welcome us with fresh shadows, surprise with decorative schist notes, invite us to spend a few days in that refuge.

6. Cerdeira
Cerdeira Village is a rural tourism area closely linked to creation and artistic training since 2012. The “village” is composed of nine reclaimed shale houses, where it is empirically proven that “time does not fly” (there is no television and the internet access is attached to Café da Videira, one of the common spaces of the village).
The village was classified as a municipal interest in order to protect its architectural heritage. Since the village has been immune to interventions that could de-characterize or adulterate its traditional moth, this classification will legally ensure its future protection.

7. Fluvial Beach of Mrs. da Piedade
The N. Sra ª da Piedade Fluvial Beach is the ideal place to refresh yourself from the mountainous heat of Serra da Lousã. Protected by the Castle of Lousã (wrapped in legends and mysticism) and by the Chapels of N. Sra. Da Piedade (which lends its name), this beach becomes an intimate nook in deep contact with nature.
The clean and transparent waters of the Ribeira de S. João reflect the dense vegetation that provides the shade to the bathers who refresh there.

8. “This is Lousã”
Created in 2016 by a group of anonymous lovers in Lousã, the project “This is Lousã” is responsible for the creation of several artistic structures in the county.
Among them, there is the swing of the Senhora da Piedade Fluvial Beach (this one was destroyed in winter, and was recovered again this summer, with the added value of now also having nocturnal illumination), the rock in Alto do Trevim (image (above the previous swing), the frame over the village “Isto é Lousã” (on the road on the way to Lousã Castle) , the bank and the sofas (located before the village of Casal Novo, it is possible to access only on foot from a descent to the left on the tar road).
These places are already “postcards” of Lousã. It pays to go through each of these spaces and collect memorable photos!

9. River Beach of Bogueira
The river beach of Bogueira, in Casal de Ermio, in Lousã, is a quiet place with a friendly atmosphere. Considered a river beach of low depth, it is a good alternative also as a children’s beach, in the course of the river Ceira.
With access ramp for people with reduced mobility, it has a swimmers-savior bathing season. The lawn area, a picnic area, “seagulls” and rowboats complement the equipment available to enjoy this space, which has a Beach Flag Accessible for all, thus guaranteeing access to the disabled.
“Blue Flag” since 2016 is recognized by the criteria of environmental management and education, information, bathing water quality, services, and user safety.
Since 2016, it has also been awarded the title of “Quality of Gold”, awarded by the National Association of Nature Conservation (Quercus), which covers the bathing areas of the country with high-quality water.