TASTE MOVE EXPLORE WALK RELAX

TASTE

Assumar Country House is located on the rota dos vinhos. There is an abundance of wine estates in the Alentejo. We keep a nice assortment of their produce in our ‘garrafeira’.

Just outside Arronches you’ll find the Reynolds Wine Estate (Monte Figueira de Cima) started by the same family who later also set up the domain of Mouchão. This British family started operating corkproduction in 1838 and exported several other Iberian products to the homeland which they sold at their London store. The current vineyard (100 hectares) is located in a valley of immense beauty in the São Mamede national park.

Some of the other winehouses that are situated in our region are Perdigão in Monforte , Mouchão in Casa Branca and Tiago Cabaço in Estremoz.

Wine estates in Alentejo

MOVE

At Baloníssmo in Évora, you can take to the sky, starting from two people. It’s a fun workout to help get the balloon ready for travel before taking off. Nelson, the pilot, speaks his languages fluently, including Dutch and English. This is an overwhelming experience in a unique landscape that will stay with you forever.

Ballooning Evora

Starting at Alegrete and Esperança you can ride a mountain bike trail of 11 or 16 km in the natural park. The region’s small secondary roads are perfect for quiet bike rides which mostly require no strenuous effort. You’ll see amazing landscapes, drive past castles and through picturesque whitewashed villages. (A bicycle helmet and yellow vest are mandatory in Portugal.)

You can also take beautiful walks on the various signposted routes in this part of the Alentejo. The paths are often set out in such a way that they run completely or partly through a protected nature reserve. The walking routes have inviting names such as the ‘coffee smugglers path’, ‘along waterways’, and ‘the fountain route’. They vary in distance between 5 and 35 kilometers. It is the ideal way to discover our region, nature, and it’s endearing inhabitants in a very intense way.

EXPLORE

The Alentejo consists of a unique mix of villages and cities that never cease to charm. Discover them at your own pace.

Not to be missed is of course Évora where the Portuguese kings settled in the 15th century. The city dates back from Roman times and is best visited on foot to fully appreciate the rich cultural heritage. Allow a full day for your visit. Half an hour drive out of the city you’ll find the amazing Cromeleque dos Almendres. It’s the ‘Stonehenge’ of Portugal and a visit well worth. Try to get there early in the morning before the crowds arrive, for a unique experience.

Cromeleque dos Almendres

Just like Évora, the fortified city of Elvas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival you will immediately see the impressive aquaduct of Amoreira. This 3-storey structure is over 7 km long and designed by Francisco de Arruda who contributed to the construction of the Torre de Belém in Lisbon. Just outside Elvas you can visit the largest fortified building in the world, or you can take a stroll through the charming old town.

Portalegre is located at the foot of the green hills of the Serra de São Mamede. In the 16th century, this town was the Portuguese center of the wool trade. An overview of that rich history can be seen in the beautiful and interesting museu das tapeçarias. (carpet museum). The townscape of Portalegre is determined by the aristocratic facades of former baroque merchant houses from a bygone era.

One of the top attractions of the Alto Alentejo is the settlement village of Marvão which, like an eagle’s nest, is located in the mountains of São Mamede. This medieval village is one of the highest situated villages in all of Portugal, and together with Monsaraz, one of the absolute gems of the country. Along the steep streets you start the trip to the castle, located on the highest point of the rock plateau.

Another charming village is Castelo de Vide where the best preserved Jewish quarter in Portugal is located. The old synagogue is now a small museum. It lies in a labyrinth of extremely narrow streets, with flower boxes at all doors. The Jewish presence is reflected here in the street names and in the religious signs of generations of Hebrew culture on the granite doors. In the village you will also find a number of springs with medicinal water. Those who drink it will one day return to get married in Castelo de Vide!

Don’t forget to visit Vila Viçosa, the marble village whose streets are lined with fragrant orange trees. This pretty town is known for its beautiful white marble houses and the imposing 16th century Paço Ducal Palace. The interiors are lavishly decorated and include impressive ceiling paintings and Brussels tapestries. Make a stopover in nearby Borba, a winegrowing center where several wineries are located. Taste the local specialty “rabbit in the oven” at O Espalha Brasas, located just outside the village, amidst the extensive vineyards. Starting in Vila Viçosa you can take a spectacular guided tour of some marble quarries.

Guided marble tour

Estremoz is a very charming town where you can stroll on the largest antique and flea market in the Alentejo on Saturday mornings. You will find the craziest rarities amidst a variety of old local utensils. Walk into one of the many pastelarias to enjoy the various local pastries. In the old upper town you have a beautiful view over the plains around while you walk along the 17th-century fortress wall. Make sure you visit the ‘Berardo’ museum with a collection of the most beautiful and unique ‘Azulejos’ (floor and wall tiles) in the country.

Berardo Museum

WALK

The Serra de São Mamede originated between 400 and 300 million years ago. This park is unique in the flat Alentejo where little or no mountains can be found. Along eight marked hiking trails (between 8 and 16 km), you have the opportunity to discover the varied vegetation and spot unique birds of prey such as griffon vultures and the hawk eagle; the latter being the symbol of the park. There are also a large number of special mammals, including red deer, mongooses, foxes, otters and genet cats. It is one of the few places in Europe where the rare Iberian Lynx is still found. In mainland Portugal this is also the area with the largest number of amphibian and reptile species, in fact, of the 17 amphibian species of the Portuguese fauna, 14 are present here. There are long walking trails waiting for you to be discovered. We keep a handy booklet to help you on your way.

Walks in São Mamede park

RELAX

You don’t have to go anywhere if you don’t feel like it. You can also just rest in Assumar Country House and let yourself be pampered with a massage. Wellness coach Heidi Dyer gladly gives a private yoga session (if enough participants) that takes place in the garden weather permitting.