Aldeia do Talasnal
Aldeia do Talasnal
4.5
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4.5
378 reviews
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Lady Cheryl
Valley Stream, NY786 contributions
May 2024 • Family
Ww drove to this location from Central Lousã. The drive was along a narrow, steep road that was filled with lots of signs leading you up the mountain. Get yourself a reliable, preferably automatic vehicle and drive. Go on a clear day so you are able to see Lousã Mountains beauty. There are a few opportunities to stop along the road and see, take breathtaking pictures, and just gaze at the lovely nature.
This village has restaurants and sweet shops and is arranged in a very tourist welcoming way. Everything is there to be touched and marveled to view how people lived differently from most. Please know that this is a tourist adventure and the prices when making purchases are no different.
You need to walk the village so please dress accordingly. Sneakers preferably are ideal. I wore slides and had a hard time moving around.
Everyone here, like Portugal, is kind, warm, people. Strongly recommend to visit.
This village has restaurants and sweet shops and is arranged in a very tourist welcoming way. Everything is there to be touched and marveled to view how people lived differently from most. Please know that this is a tourist adventure and the prices when making purchases are no different.
You need to walk the village so please dress accordingly. Sneakers preferably are ideal. I wore slides and had a hard time moving around.
Everyone here, like Portugal, is kind, warm, people. Strongly recommend to visit.
Written 19 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nadi
Israel1,296 contributions
Oct 2021
Wow Wow and more Wow. A super impressive and unique village in Lousa area. They revived an old village made of schist.
It looks from another world, an authentic old Portuguese world.
Simply lovely to walk in the narrow alleys among the beautiful houses.
It looks from another world, an authentic old Portuguese world.
Simply lovely to walk in the narrow alleys among the beautiful houses.
Written 14 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Craig M
Porto, Portugal3,047 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
I took a motorcycle ride from Porto to see some of the traditional schist villages. Talasnal was one of them, along with Casal Novo, Chiqueiro, Candal and Cerdeira. The five that I visited are fairly close to each other, with the nearest town being Lousã.
A group of 27 of these schist villages have been gathered under one organisational association, to encourage their preservation and to promote them as tourist destinations. This association is called ADXTUR – The Agency for the Tourist Development of the Schist Villages. These 27 schist villages – aldeias do xisto – are all located in Central Portugal, between Coimbra and Castelo Branco. They are easily reached by road, with ample road signs pointing the way and with bright yellow marker stones at the entrance to each village. Many of the villages are also connected by hiking trails, which are clearly marked – pointing out the direction, distance and estimated time to cover the distance. Each of the villages also has an information board at the entrance, showing the layout of the village with points of interest mapped out.
Schist is a metamorphic rock that is found in the mountains of Portugal. Not only is schist easy to locate, it also has properties that make it easy to split along its grain, to create flat surfaces useful for building and for creating roofing.
Whilst following the narrow road from Casal Novo, a gap opens in the roadside trees. It reveals a distant view of Talasnal, perched on a ridge with tree-covered mountains as a backdrop.
Further along the road, signs direct visitors down a slight hill where cars park on both sides of the road. Talasnal may be larger than its neighbours, but it still doesn’t have any roads within the village. Residents and visitors alike must park on the approach road and walk in, along the various pathways.
Talasnal has been developed for tourism, so it differs significantly from the sleepy villages of Chiqueiro and Casal Novo. The village is home to several guest houses as well as restaurants, bars and shops. There is an abundance of colourful signage throughout, to ensure visitors can find their way.
A delightful little bar was calling out to me, tempting me to enter and drink a cold beer. But I don’t drink when I’m out on the bike, so I had to make do with poking my head through the door and taking a few photos. The ‘O Curral’ bar could have been designed for hobbits, with its tiny entrance door. In reality, it is a converted corral, or animal shed, which explains the low door. It has rustic wooden furniture and old hand-tools adorning the walls. And the ceiling is covered in paper notes, left by previous guests. I would have loved to spend a little time in there with a drink – but I settled for a bottle of water and an ice cream bar at the shop next to the car park.
Despite having been developed for tourism, the village still has many traditional features and some derelict buildings that can be seen whilst walking around. It would be a good location for an overnight stay for hikers, as there are several trails that connect the schist villages. It would also be a nice spot for lunch whilst driving around the area.
A group of 27 of these schist villages have been gathered under one organisational association, to encourage their preservation and to promote them as tourist destinations. This association is called ADXTUR – The Agency for the Tourist Development of the Schist Villages. These 27 schist villages – aldeias do xisto – are all located in Central Portugal, between Coimbra and Castelo Branco. They are easily reached by road, with ample road signs pointing the way and with bright yellow marker stones at the entrance to each village. Many of the villages are also connected by hiking trails, which are clearly marked – pointing out the direction, distance and estimated time to cover the distance. Each of the villages also has an information board at the entrance, showing the layout of the village with points of interest mapped out.
Schist is a metamorphic rock that is found in the mountains of Portugal. Not only is schist easy to locate, it also has properties that make it easy to split along its grain, to create flat surfaces useful for building and for creating roofing.
Whilst following the narrow road from Casal Novo, a gap opens in the roadside trees. It reveals a distant view of Talasnal, perched on a ridge with tree-covered mountains as a backdrop.
Further along the road, signs direct visitors down a slight hill where cars park on both sides of the road. Talasnal may be larger than its neighbours, but it still doesn’t have any roads within the village. Residents and visitors alike must park on the approach road and walk in, along the various pathways.
Talasnal has been developed for tourism, so it differs significantly from the sleepy villages of Chiqueiro and Casal Novo. The village is home to several guest houses as well as restaurants, bars and shops. There is an abundance of colourful signage throughout, to ensure visitors can find their way.
A delightful little bar was calling out to me, tempting me to enter and drink a cold beer. But I don’t drink when I’m out on the bike, so I had to make do with poking my head through the door and taking a few photos. The ‘O Curral’ bar could have been designed for hobbits, with its tiny entrance door. In reality, it is a converted corral, or animal shed, which explains the low door. It has rustic wooden furniture and old hand-tools adorning the walls. And the ceiling is covered in paper notes, left by previous guests. I would have loved to spend a little time in there with a drink – but I settled for a bottle of water and an ice cream bar at the shop next to the car park.
Despite having been developed for tourism, the village still has many traditional features and some derelict buildings that can be seen whilst walking around. It would be a good location for an overnight stay for hikers, as there are several trails that connect the schist villages. It would also be a nice spot for lunch whilst driving around the area.
Written 1 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John G
80 contributions
Feb 2017 • Friends
We hiked up from the Lousa castle area. The hiking trails can be a little confusing at first but just follow marked trails to Talasnal. There are also other Schist villages accessible via hiking trail or by road. Many of the houses are abandoned, we only found 1 - 2 tiny coffee houses. If getting there by hiking, make sure to bring water and some snacks as the shops might not be open during off peak season. Total hiking takes around 3-6 hours depending on how many schist villages you plan to visit.
The hiking trails are breathtaking along with beautiful views of the terrain and streams of rivers.
We took a bus to Lousa from Coimbra. Bus tickets can be bought inside the Coimbra A train station. Don't get confuse as there's two bus stations, one near the train station (along the river) and another one near the McDonald. The buses that goes to Lousa is located near the train station.
The hiking trails are breathtaking along with beautiful views of the terrain and streams of rivers.
We took a bus to Lousa from Coimbra. Bus tickets can be bought inside the Coimbra A train station. Don't get confuse as there's two bus stations, one near the train station (along the river) and another one near the McDonald. The buses that goes to Lousa is located near the train station.
Written 6 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HikerDoc21208
Pikesville, MD168 contributions
Sept 2017 • Family
Not to be overwhelmed by our demands for activity and sites, Ana, our personalized tour creator from Splendid Evasion (Evanos Travel) recommended the 4 of us rent a car and enjoy the scenic byways of central Portugal to the central highlands near Lousa. There we will find a collection of villages made from the earth, schist, and historically interconnected with each other only by foot during the times of castles and kings. While isolated, the countrymen lived well foraging, hunting and gardening but protected. We hiked from Castelo Lousa, passing the old paper plant now recreational pool, across the river to Santuario de Nossa Senhora da Piedade up the forested switchbacks to Talasnal. There, we met Agostinho in his renovated schist house BnB. We enjoyed refreshments a variety of homemade (moonshine-based) liquers overlooking the valley. I shared my coffee and Alex shared his juniper berry “fortaliza”. Fortified, we crossed the valley to Chiqueiro village where we pulled fresh autumn apples from the tree and overlooked the town of Lousa. These 2 of 27 vacated “neighborhoods” or Aldeias de Xisto have been newly re-integrated into the municipality and now re-gentrified one house at a time. Legend has it that the “shisto’s”(as I might call them) during the 1800’s carved blocks of ice during the winter and carted them to the King in Lisboa 200 km away so he could make ice cream in the winter.
We returned through dense pines and gorgeous vistas to town and our Palacio de Lousa Boutique Hotel to shower, rest over Licor Beirao (made from a secret ingredient?!) and dinner sitting in a painted and parqueted room fit for the traveling trovadors at the inn fit for a king.
Sleeping well in our “period” styled room with floor to ceiling windows and doors, velvet walls,marble bathroom and poster bed we awoke to a delicious breakfast with fresh pasteis de nata, homemade granola, fresh fruits and yogurts and earthy and dark local honey. We sat just above English gardens, fountains and majestic pool overlooking the green pastures beyond.
We returned through dense pines and gorgeous vistas to town and our Palacio de Lousa Boutique Hotel to shower, rest over Licor Beirao (made from a secret ingredient?!) and dinner sitting in a painted and parqueted room fit for the traveling trovadors at the inn fit for a king.
Sleeping well in our “period” styled room with floor to ceiling windows and doors, velvet walls,marble bathroom and poster bed we awoke to a delicious breakfast with fresh pasteis de nata, homemade granola, fresh fruits and yogurts and earthy and dark local honey. We sat just above English gardens, fountains and majestic pool overlooking the green pastures beyond.
Written 27 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jennjsa
Fort Lauderdale, FL48 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
We parked at Lousa Castle (not easy to find but the natives are friendly) and hiked 6 km to Talasnal and Casal Novo Schist Villages. The hike was challenging in spots but very manageable. It took about 4 1/2 hours even though the charts said it should take 3 hours. We used PR2 LSA as our map. The villages are hard to explain but give an excellent glimpse into life hundreds of years ago. Bring water and snacks as there are no services along the way. Don't be surprised if you don't see anyone else on the walk. Super special.
Written 9 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lídia C
9 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
An absolutely wonderful place, makes you feel like you're in a magic land. The houses are as cute as can be and the mountain setting is gorgeous. I believe that at this point, no one lives there permanently, but it's extremely well conserved, although a couple of houses are still to be restored. It has lovely places to rent for the night, but I recommend you take care of it before you reach there, or you might not find anyone (especially on low season). There's just a couple of cafes/restaurants, and they're not open all the time, so double check on that before or just take supplies to cook with, if you're staying over.
There are gorgeous mountain trails to explore around that area as well.
There are gorgeous mountain trails to explore around that area as well.
Written 5 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom S
Vilnius, Lithuania97 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
We decided to walk the track from Lousa to Talasnal imagiening how hard times were. Great coming from down and see the i itial histoy. Getting to the center become touristic as you can drive all the way BUT it is truely worth a visit.
Written 14 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
José L
Miami, FL176 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
This is a magical place that needs to be visited at least once in a lifetime! Everything is well preserved and you can really have a sense of the living back in the days the it was a working village.
If you have never visited a Xisto Village, try this one and stay at the village several private homes being rented. It is an amazing base to explore other village either hiking or by car. Loved it!
If you have never visited a Xisto Village, try this one and stay at the village several private homes being rented. It is an amazing base to explore other village either hiking or by car. Loved it!
Written 26 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HerbertHuayacocotla
Mexico City, Mexico139 contributions
Nov 2019
Thoug, this village is maintained mostly for touristic reasons, as the houses open mainly con busy days, to earn some money by tourists, it is nevertheless worthy to visit.
Climbing up the narrow road by car, through very steep curves, you can admire the beautiful wilderness and landscapes, if you find a place (there are some, even if you will have to walk back a while) to park your car.
Arriving, you will have to park your car at the entrance of the village and do the rest on foot.
It gives a good view on the harsh and difficult way of life, the original inhabitants had to handle, especially in winter, in old times.
Bring your camera and you will fill your memories in no time.
Climbing up the narrow road by car, through very steep curves, you can admire the beautiful wilderness and landscapes, if you find a place (there are some, even if you will have to walk back a while) to park your car.
Arriving, you will have to park your car at the entrance of the village and do the rest on foot.
It gives a good view on the harsh and difficult way of life, the original inhabitants had to handle, especially in winter, in old times.
Bring your camera and you will fill your memories in no time.
Written 6 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ola... qnt tempo dispensaram p esta visita? foram a mais alguma no mesmo dia?
obrigada
Written 10 March 2017
Olá Vera, boa noite, ficamos 5 noites, visitamos 12 Aldeias de Xisto, 2 delas (Casal Novo e Chiqueiro) bem como o Castelo, onde existe um excelente restaurante (O Burgo), que recentemente deu uma reportgem na TVI, dá para fazer um percurso pedestre.
As aldeias ficam perto, existem algumas mais longe mas fazem-se bem em 4-5 dias.
Written 30 August 2017
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