The schist village of Talasnal is located in the Serra da Lousã, in central Portugal. The accommodation we recommend for those visiting the schist villages and the surrounding area is Casa do Talasnal (which you can book here).
The highest point of Serra da Lousã is 1,205 meters high. In this mountain, mostly belonging to the district of Coimbra, in addition to the schist villages of Talasnal, Gondramaz, Candal, Pena and Cerderia, you can and should visit the lousã castle, the trevim swing and the Penedos de Góis swing.
By car or through the numerous walking and mountain biking routes, the visits are of medium difficulty and require some resilience for walking or cycling off-road.
One of the most interesting places close to Casa do Talasnal (which you can book here) to visit is the Capela de Santo António da Neve, built in honor of Santo António de Lisboa, which combines the spiritual and human aspects of the Schist Villages.
Contents of this article
» Talasnal's swings
» Lousã Castle
» Talasnal history | The Schist Villages
Talasnal's swings
At Alto do Trevim, the highest point of Serra da Lousã, you can enjoy the surrounding views that, on a day with good visibility, allow you to see the beaches on the coast along the Atlantic Ocean. Serra da Estrela and even Marvão, in Alentejo, can also be seen from the Trevim swing on sunny days.
Another swing located in the Lousã mountain range is the Penedos de Góis swing, a spectacular place surrounded by a wonderful landscape and endless views. Less touristy than the Trevim swing, it has very technical pedestrian access from Povorais.
On site you can explore the steep cliffs of Góis, and the nearby Pena Schist Village is also worth a visit.
Lousã Castle
Places also worthy of a visit are the Castelo da Lousã and the religious and landscape complex of Mrs. da Piedade, which stands out not only for its religiosity, but also for the terreiro for parties and for being next to the Arouce River, flanked by beautiful river pools of sparkling water.
On the other bank, the Castelo da Lousã stands out, officially Castelo de Arouce, a defensive construction from the 11th century topped by a small hill from where it is possible to see the beauty of the entire surrounding area.
The castle of Lousã is small and admission is free, with an interpretation center where it is possible to learn about the history that was at the genesis of this defensive construction of the Portuguese reconquest against the Muslim occupation. It is a National Monument by Decree published on June 23, 1910.
Inside the castle of Lousã, a spiral staircase allows access to the wall and the keep. Built in the 14th century, it can be visited all the way to the top.
The castle of Lousã and the chapels of Mrs. da Piedade are 2kms from the village of Lousã and can be reached by car, mountain bike or by walking through the beautiful walkways of Serra da Lousã that pass through Casa do Talasnal (which you can book here).
Next to the castle of Lousã there is a very pleasant place for picnics and enjoying nature, as well as enjoying the river beach closest to Talasnal, which, in summer, has lifeguards and a restaurant.
Talasnal history » The Schist Villages
Talasnal is 1 of the 27 Schist villages in Portugal. Possibly the most famous and well-known, it benefits from an unusual natural environment, flanked by footpaths that run through the Lousã mountain range and that pass through other schist villages also known, such as Gondramaz, Pena and Cerderia.
The name schist village comes from the material mostly used for the construction of houses, schist. Abundant in the Serra da Lousã, in Trás-os-Montes and in Beiras, shale has unique properties, namely insulation from humidity.
The benefit of this metamorphic rock for construction, as well as its abundance in nature, made it the main material used to build houses in the designated schist villages.
Since prehistoric times there have been traces of human presence in the territory that is now known as Schist Villages, a material used in the construction of artefacts since the Bronze Age.
However, the population of these villages dates back to medieval times, many due to population growth that expanded pastoral activities and trade. Others were founded by religious orders and others by royal decree.
Mainly since the 60s, the villages have been losing inhabitants, becoming practically deserted at the beginning of the 21st century. Since then, local authorities, supported by the European Union, have carried out several programs to repopulate shale villages, such as the village of Talasnal, whose local accommodation can be booked here.
For additional information, book the Casa do Talasnal holiday home here, and we will be happy to customize your stay with us :)
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