Assento Gerês | Grand Eco-Retreat - jacuzzi views

OVERVIEW

• Experience the magic of Gerês from 'Casa do Assento'!
• Rent two adjoining cottages right opposite Lindoso Castle
• Direct access to hiking paths. 
• Enjoy modern comforts alongside traditional charm. AC, Starlink Wi-Fi, solar. 
• Cosy winter nights next to the fire log burner, or in the two hot tubs under the stars. Explore nature, delve into history, and indulge in local cuisine. 
• The expansive garden with BBQ is perfect for gatherings. 
• Eco-conscious and awarded for rural tourism quality. 
• EV charger for electric cars

THE PROPERTY

• Casa do Assento is split into two cottages right next door, with official ‘Rural Tourism’ certificate: ‘Casa de Campo’, by the Portuguese Tourist Board. 
• Inspiring place that takes you back to medieval times. 
• An excellent base for exploring Minho, Northern Portugal and Spain. 

The Caminho wing of the house

• This historic house has been recently fully refurbished to very high standards, making it an excellent choice if you're looking for a low carbon, low footprint holiday. 
• Amazing mountain and river views.
• Patio and garden area surround the house, and the castle ands its land are also our playground.
• Super comfy bedrooms with new beds, Egyptian cotton linen and towels and hot tub robes. 
• The kitchen is fully equipped to cook and even invite friends over for a meal. You'll find dishwasher, full-size fridge-freezer, microwave, oven, etc. 
• Large living and dining room, open space, with two doors directly to the kitchen. 
• The living room opens up to the veranda, where you find a quality hot tub for 4 people, dining area and outdoor furniture. 
• Check the views of the mountains and the river Lima! 
• Awesome to just sit and listen to the wide range of bird species. If you're lucky you may see some golden eagles circling high up above the water. Feel free to use the binoculars.

The Castelo wing of the house

• This medieval cottage has been recently fully refurbished to very high standards, making it an excellent choice if you're looking for a comfortable, low carbon footprint holiday. 
• Super comfy bedrooms await, with new beds, Egyptian cotton linen and towels, and robes for the hot tub provided. 
• The kitchen is fully equipped for preparing wonderful meals, featuring a dishwasher, full-size fridge-freezer, microwave and oven. Ideal for your feasts with family and friends. 
• Enjoy the large, open-plan living and dining room, where you can also find an antique desk, board games, books and local maps to plan your exploring adventures. Step outside the back door to find a dedicated al fresco dining area. 
• This opens onto the large, private garden, a real highlight of this house, perfect for relaxing or playing in privacy. Feel free to use the binoculars. 
• Patio areas also surround the house, and the nearby castle grounds (freely open around the outer walls) offer more space to explore. 
• Bedroom 1 provides direct access to the veranda, where you'll find a quality hot tub for 4-5 people and outdoor seating. 
• From here, soak in the incredible views of the mountains and the river Lima! It's an awesome spot to unwind, listen to the diverse local birdlife, and maybe even glimpse golden eagles soaring high above the valley. 

PRIVATE GUEST ACCESS

Full access to all areas indoors and outdoors. 

PLEASE RESPECT OUR NEIGHBOURS

Avoid making too much noise outside at night, wear appropriate swimwear in the jacuzzi.

HOST COMMUNICATION

Online and via phone. Our local house managers will be available in-person for specific needs. 

OUR FAMILY’S RECOMMENDATIONS - LINDOSO, PENEDA-GERÊS NATIONAL PARK AND REGION 

We strongly recommend that you read our list of recommendations. It’s organised in sections, so you can choose to read about the interests of your group. 

AN OVERVIEW 

• There are lots of things to do and explore in Lindoso, the Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG) and the surrounding Minho region. 
• The highlights are its stunning natural beauty, the rivers, mountains, hiking trails, swimming spots, and the sheer diversity of fauna and flora. 
• Then there’s the rich historical heritage, with a large number of castles, ancient churches, Roman roads, and traditional villages. 
• Traditions, local culture, and gastronomy are all interlinked and present throughout the region, from the municipalities of Ponte da Barca and Arcos de Valdevez, which Lindoso is nestled between, to further afield. 
• From the famous Loureiro wine of the Lima valley to the Alvarinho a bit further north in Monção, the ‘vinho verde’ permeates current livelihoods and the region’s identity. 
• You'll also find street food and crafts at local markets, lively popular parties (festas), religious and cultural processions, musical events, a few small museums, and antique fairs in nearby towns and villages. 
• Outdoor activities are mostly linked to the national park: hiking, horse riding through the mountains, mountain bike hire, canyoning, river and rock pool swimming, kayaking, and Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP). 
• You can also go on 4x4 tours, visit vineyards, and try the excellent wines of the region, particularly from the local ‘Adega Cooperativa’ (wine cooperative) down in Ponte da Barca, founded in 1963. 

After you make a reservation we will share the full list of recommendations, which you can also read on our website.

TRANSPORT AND GETTING AROUND

• Free parking in the castle parking area right next to the house.
• Space for 1 or 2 cars inside the property, next to the EV charger. 
• NEARBY ROADS AND PLACES YOU CAN EASILY GET TO
• Our house is literally 1 minute from the main road N203 that runs to Spain (5 minutes to the border) and down to Ponte da Barca (25 minutes). 
• From Ponte da Barca, there are several options. The fastest highway is the IC28 (goes all the way to the coast at Viana do Castelo, about 40 minutes, or up to Galicia in Spain, around 40 minutes to Tui). 
• From the IC28, it takes 15 minutes to get onto the national motorway A3 (Porto, Braga, Guimarães). 
• Overall, Porto city centre or the airport (OPO) are just 1h30 from our house in Lindoso. 
• The coast is about 1h15 away. Spain is 5 minutes away into the mountains, and about 1h30 to the Rias Baixas in Galicia. 

BUSES 

AVIC buses run on weekdays three times a say during school term. Outside of term they run 3 days a week. Check with AVIC for updated times and prices. 

TAXI 

Local taxi drivers operate in the area, ask us for details. Please always respect the locals, our neighbours and the nature of the park.