Rural Cottage with Swimming Pool on a Nature Reserve
- Riverside / Waterfront
- Village / Rural
- Garden
- Swimming Pool
- Baby Equipment
- Internet Access
- Log Fire
- Courses Available
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Horse Riding
- Therapies
- Walking
- Child Friendly
- Cook available
- Pet Friendly
Nestled within the Alentejo countryside and with spectacular views, the guest cottage has been built in a traditional Alentejo style with a bright, light and airy open plan living area; two bedrooms and two bathrooms, one en-suite. French windows from both the bedrooms and the living area lead onto terraces revealing the stunning views across the Alentejo countryside.
Luminoso, the name of the property, refers to the exceptional quality of light found in this part of Portugal. Absent from the fumes and pollution found in much of Europe, the millions of stars twinkling in the night sky are a testament to the clarity of the atmosphere in the Baixo Alentejo. This 40ha stretch of land is near the barragem Monte da Rocha, which is a local dam used for drinking water and irrigation and in a wet year reaches the foot of the property. The land is part of a nature reserve with a plethora of unusual birds, animals, and ancient trees. This area is one of the most rural and agricultural found in Portugal and that is its charm. Here you will still see the shepherds with their flocks, or encounter farmers moving their cattle along the small dirt roads; whilst many of the tiny villages reveal a life that could be drawn from a previous century and are well worth visiting.
The nearby pretty town of Ourique offers shops, supermarkets, cafés, and restaurants, and has a nice busy atmosphere. There is a Miradouro (viewing point) on top of the town. Near Castro Verde, a town worth visiting, there is a big nature reserve, Campo Branco, where the rare Great Bussard and Little Bussard can be seen. It is open for guided tours by appointment. The old town Mértola with its roman archeology, nestling on the shores of Guadiana River and nearby reservation area for Lynx are well worth a visit. Algarve coasts (Albufeira) about 50 min drive, there are beautiful beaches with the buzz of a tourist area, lots of restaurants and entertainment. West coast beaches (Zambujera, Milfontes) approx 50 min drive, long, quiet beaches, beautiful little towns and villages, restaurants, not as crowded with tourists. Also worth visits are Beja, Almodovar, Evora. There are also Archaeological sites of great interest nearby.
Getting There:
Faro Airport 1 hour drive, Lisbon Airport 1 ¾ hour drive. All roads are very good, well maintained and there is usually very little traffic. Access to property only 2 km on small, good gravel road from big main Lisbon - Algarve road. Use of car is essential.
Nearest Airport:
Faro and Lisbon 100km / 180 km
Nearest Train Station:
Funcheira 18 km
Nearest Bus Stop:
Ourique 11 km
Nearest Restaurant:
various with typical portugues/alentejo food
Nearest Beach:
1hr away to west (quiet ones) or south (Algarve)
Nearest Shop:
Ourique
Nearest Market:
weekly and monthly markets in nearby towns
Car Hire:
Advised
Interior Details
There are two bedrooms (one double and one twin), both well furnished and both with French windows leading on to the terrace. Bedroom one has an ensuite bathroom and there is another separate bathroom. The open plan living, eating and kitchen area is spacious, nicely decorated and well equipped. Three French windows are leading out to the terraces. The cottage is being powered by solar energy and providing all the necessities of life including under floor heating. You will also be able to enjoy a wood burning fire in the cooler months and will find a fully equipped kitchen and well appointed bathrooms.
Exterior Details
Situated on 40ha of private land, surrounded by its fenced-in garden and patio, two terraces with built-in BBQ. Views over fields with lots of ancient oak trees. At times the lake reaches right up to the property. The pool is set in a separate garden, 50m from cottage with a nice pergola, surrounded by nature with stunning views.Acres of rolling plains are home to the famous cork oak trees and, once known as the bread basket of Portugal, huge undulating acres of green turn to golden brown in the summer months as the grains ripen.
Conditions of Rental
Booking by phone, email, mail. 20% deposit due on booking with the balance payable by bank transfer or paypal one month before arrival date. The deposit is refundable until 3 months before arrival, for cancellations after this, it can be transferred to another date within a year. The final payment is not refundable 3 weeks prior to start of your holiday. By paying the deposit you acknowledge these conditions. Arrivals from 4pm / departures by 11am.
