]]> http://www.casaldesaosimao.com/2009/06/24/new-layout/feed/ 0 http://www.casaldesaosimao.com/2007/09/26/site-online/ http://www.casaldesaosimao.com/2007/09/26/site-online/#comments Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:30:48 +0000 admin http://www.casaldesaosimao.com/?p=164 Today (26-09-2007), the site is finished and has it’s first Static Layout.

“Schist Villages” site

To see some information, click on pictures above.

By the middle of 2008, it is expected that the restaurant, now being built at the entrance of the village, will be ready. Efforts are being made to make of it the best in the entire district.

In Avelar

Dona Vitalina: Rua Nova, 65; Tel: 236 622 534. Lunch only!
No signs at the front door, just come inside, greet Mrs Vitalina, a white hair good-tempered lady, and ask (and see because she’s in the kitchen) what’s the menu.
Home made food, good quality but only two or three plates to choose from (which is enough…). The price includes the main course, bread, a drink (wine, mineral water, beer, juice) and a coffee just before you leave, by a counter, while you pay (5 euros). No dessert or fruit.
In advance, a special meal, pumpkin soup, a real Portuguese dish made of vegetables and some varieties of sausages..
The sooner, the better, because Mrs Vitalina can run out of food. So, go early, starting from 12 o’clock on.

Pastelaria Rocha:
Just in the pedestrian street in front of Dona Vitalina, there’s a coffee shop and bakery. Different kinds of fresh bread are sold all day and nice looking cookies and biscuits can be tasted at any time.

Espeto de Prata:
For those who prefer to eat at home or make a picnic and don’t want to prepare it, this is the choice. Every day a different meal and grilled chicken and ribs always. Bring always “migas” (as a substitute of or accompanying rice or chips) which is a typical food made of smashed bread, little beans and very thin slices of cabbage.
Open every day.

In Ribeira de Alge

O Moinho: Tel: 236 622 035
Have lunch, dinner or just a snack in between, at a nice balcony over a running stream 15 meters below.
A good variety of fish (from the river) and meat. Good service, better cooking.
If you feel warm ask for draught green wine.
If you are not going to drive, seal up the meal with a good Old (or even Very Old) Portuguese “aguardente” (brandy).

In Figueiró dos Vinhos

Toca do Mocho:
Largo Cesário Francisco Castanheira, at Castanheira de Figueiró. Tel: 236 553 038.
It’s a nearby village, 2 Km out of Figueiró dos Vinhos, on the way to Castanheira de Pera (pay attention to the restaurant sign on the main road).
The owners, real lovers of traditional cooking, succeed to serve amazing meals, as a natural consequence of mixing local recepies and own investigation. Splendid variety of wines and good advisory. One of the best restaurants around.
There are other people who say (actually write in portuguese) the same, and in details.

Confeitaria Santa Luzia: Rua Dr. José Martinho Simões, 75; Tel: 236 552 129
Not a restaurant, not even a coffee shop; it’s the place where, for sure, the best sponge-cake is made. Open all day and night long, in the centre of the town, just ask anyone where it is. It’s run by the same family for generations who still make the famous sponge-cake, torch drops and sweet chestnuts according to the original and very well kept recipes. It’s a must !

Foz de Alge Camping Park: Tel: 236 640 000
Just follow the signs from Figueiró dos Vinhos (about 10 Km).
In the place where Alge stream joins Zêzere river, a really nice and peaceful place, there’s a camping site and, inside of it, a restaurant. Although in it’s beginning, this place deserves a visit and, at least, a snack while you watch the red kites flying around. You won’t regret!

In Talasnal

Ti Lena: only at week-end, by appointment.
Tel: 933 832 624 or 917 045 608

From Casal de São Simão, is not a short ride, but Talasnal, a Schist Village, is worth a visit.
The road until this paradise is not easy, because the last kilometres, from Lousã, are not asphalted. Anyway, unless it has been raining for the last days, there will be no major problem when driving carefully a “normal” car. Otherwise, 4WD will be fantastic.
Ti Lena is the name of the last inhabitant, still alive, of this abandoned village. This restaurant is part of a dream of the owners, two friends living in different cities during the week, that decided to run this place where customers would feel like at home. The house itself is astonishing and the food unbelievable. Don’t be amazed when checking the watch and realise you’ve stayed for a good couple of hours.
If you want to see some images and are not afraid to read in portuguese read this.

In Gondramaz

0 Pátio do Xisto (www.patiodoxisto.pt) just opened in June’2008. You can have just a refreshing drink at the balcony or taste typical food from this place. Tel: +351 933 928 371 or +351 239 538 012.

Other recommended places

O Cristo (The Christ – don’t get confused, it’s just a nickname): at the roundabout, on your right, just before Espinhal, on the road to Penela. No menu, just one plate, but good Portuguese food.

O Pastor: on the left side, 500m after the “O Cristo” on the road to Penela. The best cream tarts ever made, for a pause in the morning or at tee time!

And a lot more… The list will be updated frequently so you can trust!

When available, there will be a link to the owners houses in Casal de São Simaão.

In other villages

• Gondramaz

By Municipality

• Figueiró dos Vinhos
• Penela
• Lousã

In Casal and nearby

• Watching the village
• Chatting around (if you see someone…)
• Catching some wood and pine-cones to the fireplace
• Appreciating Nature in its strength and beauty
• Hiking to the Chapel will take 15 minutes, while to Ribeira de Alge (Alge Stream) including time to enjoy and take photos, will take 1 or 2 hours. It can be a morning or afternoon walk
• Trecking from Ferrarias to Casal

At Ribeira de Alge (Alge Stream)

• Swimming
• Going up or down within (yes, really inside of) the stream
• Climbing up Fragas de São Simão (Saint Simon Crags)
• Fishing

At Penela Municipality

• Hiking at:
  • Rabaçal valley
  • Germanelo castle
  • Circuito Urbano de Penela
  • Pedra da Ferida (See movie: Stone of the wound)
  • Louçainha river beach
• Photography:
  • Nature
  • Orchids in spring
• Speleology:
  • Contact CISED
• Climbing
  • Casmilo holes

At Ansão Municipality

• Hiking at:
  • Ariques oak-grove
  • Monte da Ovelha
• Photography
  • Nature
  • Orchids in spring
• BTT

At Pombal Municipality

Highlight to Vale dos Poios (Redinha) where you can:

• Hiking
• Photographing:
  • Nature
  • Orchids in spring
• Paragliding at Redinha (Srª da Estrela)
• Climbing

At Figueiró dos Vinhos Municipality

• Canoeing at Foz do Alge
• Swimming at Ana de Aviz river beach (Blue Flag for the last 3 consecutive years)

At Castanheira de Pera Municipality

• Hiking at:
  • Serra da Lousã and if in September keep silence, the deer rut is on the air
  • Santo António da Neve (Ice-keepers)
  • Ribeira de Quelhas 1 and 2
  • Coentral
• Cannoning at Ribeira de Quelhas
• Swimming at:
  • Rocas river beach
  • Poço Corga river beach

At Gois Municipality

• Hiking at Aldeia da Pena
• Climbing at Penedo de Gois
• Cannoning at Ribeira de Pena

At Pedrogão Grande Municipality

• Cannoning at Barragem do Cabril
• Hiking at Mosteiro

If you can’t make up your mind or just want a good piece of advice, remember the full time resident couple at Casal who runs Go Outdoor, a specialized company on open air activities. Sure they can help to choose according your preferences!

Click on photo to enlarge

You can see another local map from our place.

When planning your trip, consult any of the popular sites about travelling to get to our village.

Regardless the place you are coming, you must take IC8 and then get out at the exit nº 3 which says “Aguda, Fato”. Turn left after 300 meters, where you can already see the name of Casal de São Simão. If you don’t miss the next sign (be carefull with the road and don’t fall into the cliff), you’ll be at the end of the journey within a few minutes.

The owners of almost all houses of Casal de São Simão formed “Refúgios de Pedra” (Stone Refuges) Association on the 4th January of 2006.

The main purpose is the promotion, recovery and preservation of the environmental and cultural heritage not only of the village but also of its neighbourhood.

It has actively promoted the concept of the “Aldeias de Xisto” (Schist Villages) escorting around journalists and touristic promoters. It has been present at the annual fair at Figueiró dos Vinhos with a stand, where, through text and images, everyone was told about Casal de São Simão.

It also has played (and still plays) an important role as being the messenger of all of the inhabitants at official instances such as the Municipality or Tourism Office.

This way, the Association, alone with their associates or with the support of the Municipality of Figueiró dos Vinhos, have already succeeded to implement some improvements such as:

• Pedestrian path between the villages of Ferrarias de São João and Casal de São Simão.
• Cleaning the woods around the village, to prevent the fires in summer.

The Association is available for any further inquiries and will appreciate your opinion and suggestions. Please contact us.

Actually, Casal de S. Simão has 5 full time residents:

• a former French emigrant couple, now retired, owner of a flock of goats that still produces home made cheese;
• an 94 years old lady – “aunt Lucilia”, who still works on her own plot of vegetables and chickens;
• and a young couple of environment engineers who had chosen to live and run their own business of open air activities (Go Outdoor) from here.

At weekends and holidays the village becomes a place full of life, with children’s laugh echoing on the streets again and a fistful of friends cherishing the ancient tradition of sharing the work that allowed to revive this village once more.

There are already 14 houses recovered, two in “the process” and about 40 persons directly connected to them. People are from every corner of the country and from any professional activity, gathered by the passion of, once in a while, enjoy a few days in Casal de São Simão.