Casa de Vilar de Rei, a tranquilidade do mundo rural

When you imagine a rural getaway, surrounded by wild plants, aromatic herbs, birds, rabbits and frogs, immersed in a comforting silence and in a quiet atmosphere, proper of small villages of our little corner of Portugal, then this place was just made thinking of you! A typical farm house inserted in lands formerly belonging to the Portuguese Crown, restored in full respect of its moth, with natural materials and techniques of 19th century. A hymn to the rural and authentic lifestyle! This special property and its gardens were recently transformed by the founder of the International Festival of Gardens of Ponte de Lima and formerly responsible for the Natural Parks and Protected Areas of Portugal! Here, indigenous species and wild herbs predominate, especially the aromatic herbs, a passion of the owner. Gardens, orchards and vegetable gardens in organic production mode are all around the place. All with exclusive use of animal manures and vegetable residues and production techniques eg from the use of chemicals, to keep it as authentic as possible in our modern and too fast days. There is a tank of water with frogs, which sing loudly on hot days, birds singing every day and if you're lucky and quiet enough, some rabbits jumping in the fields ahead! The house is currently a reference to many details of vernacular architecture in the Minho region. The rebuilding of the house was due to the use of natural materials, using different types of wood, clay and granite stone of the region. Red and blue oxides and whitening in replacement of inks, as well as lime to paint all the walls! All those materials were already used in the past in this farm house, and we made a point of using them again, as environmentally friendly and fully integrated in this ecological and relaxing rural atmosphere! The main house has three bedrooms (each with a private bathroom), an open space with living room and fully equipped kitchen, and a dining room! The interiors are full of details, with lots of old agricultural instruments, details of animals that existed at times on the farm, old tapestries handmade by the old ladies that kept the farm for more than sixty years, books about the region, nature and wildlife, and so on! Outdoors, enjoy family meals in the old barn house, do a barbecue, enjoy sunny days at the swimming pool, long walks along the village, and so on! It will take you only 20min driving to get to the historic center of Ponte de Lima, the oldest town of Portugal. Known as "Terra Rica of Humanity", Ponte de Lima has to offer you the very best of our region: heritage, landscape, river, culture and traditional festivities all year long, gastronomy, the one and only Green Wine; Only 2min driving, you will find a local grocery, bakery and caffe. Only 5km away you have mostly everything from supermarkets, pharmacy, gas station, restaurants and cafes, shops, ATM etc. We have at your disposal daily distribution of fresh bread at the door and 4 restaurants of typical Portuguese food within a radius of 2 km with a daily order to take a way. If you are an active person looking for different experiences, we can provide you with a wide range of so: - Canoeing to Lima River (20min driving to the Nautical Club of Ponte de Lima) - Hiking and mountain trails, 30min driving - Ecovia (about 70km from pedestrian and cycling paths along the sides of the Lima River) - Horse Riding at Lima Valley Equestrian Center or along the sides of Lima River, 20min driving - Golf course, 20min driving. - Organized tours to the most important historic centers and cities in the region - Surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing - Viana Locals School, 35min driving. - Horseback trails, 20min driving - Bike trails, 30min driving - Adventure park (slide, climbing, rappel, circuit of bridges, paintball, canyoning;), 10min driving - Wine Tastings and Tours If you don't want to leave the house in order to take the most of it, here they are our home services: - Yoga and reconnective healing - Massages and beauty treatments If you are a Touring Lover and wish to get to know the very best of this region, then we advise you: - Viana do Castelo, 30min driving - Braga, 30min driving - Guimarães, 40min driving - Peneda-Gerês National Park, 40min driving - Caminha, Valencia and Monsoon, 50min driving - Porto, 50min driving - Douro Valley, 2h30min driving And so on! From Porto Airport to Vilar de Rei House - 40min driving So that a single detail is missed and in order to provide you with a worry-free stay, we have at your disposal a Transfer Service from and back to Porto Airport (50min driving), as well as a Car Arrangement for your stay, if you wish so!