Serra Estrela

A Harmonious Synthesis Of Rustic Refinement

Linked to the tiny village of Juncais for many centuries, this historic property is a treasured family heirloom and was  restored as a tribute to the town and the region. Enlisting local talent, the owner worked with young designers to produce specially made pieces, with custom items designed by the project's architect Rodrigo Machado Soares.

Carved from local stone and handcrafted in the traditional country manor style, this pair of vacation homes for rent in Portugal speaks to the country's long-standing architectural traditions and rural lifestyle.

Aiming for a look and feel that reflected the property's mountainous, countryside location, the owner opted for a contrast in the design that also exudes contemporary comfort and sophistication, with a mix of mid-century, rustic, and antique pieces as well as oversized graphics and photographs with forest motifs to echo the wooded surroundings.

Composed of locally quarried granite stones, with high ceilings, hard wood floors and walls painted in the typical pastel colors of the romantic period, the humble rustic construction reveals more sophisticated interiors, recovered and reinterpreted to provide a genuine rural context with all of contemporary comforts and refinement for today.

Keeping the references to the romantic period, each space is washed with lime paints in pastel colors that convey a fresh but cocoon-like feel.

The expansive gardens were kept simple and natural with very subtle interventions. Winding paths were designed to connect the house to two granite decks and the pool area with large, century old olive, fig and cypress trees defining and shading the spaces, with spectacular Spring blooms blossoming each year.  

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Optional daily breakfast for €10 with optional lunch and dinner provided upon request 12 hours in advance (price not included).  Linen change every three days. Wifi throughout, satellite cable TV, Castelbel bath amenities.  

AROUND

The rural Guarda and Beira regions of central Portugal are located under the Serra da Estrela in a remote section between the Douro and the Tejo rivers that stretches from the Atlantic Coast all the way to the Spanish border. Dotted with well preserved ancient villages and the highest mountain ranges in the country, it's a quieter, less-traveled area to explore and is famous for the Dao vineyards.

The village of Juncais is a tiny hamlet where the town square and fountain are still used by neighboring shepherds and serves as the heart and central congregation point for the town's festive celebrations. The historic city of Viseu is within a 30-minute drive where you'll find everything from Roman ruins, to medieval, Gothic and Baroque remnants of civilization.

Don't miss the centuries-old Sao Mateus Fair in August with artists, crafts, music and food that lasts for up to a month. The highest town in Portugal with fortifications dating back to the 12th century, the city of Guarda is a 30-minute drive and the medieval cities of Coimbra and Conímbriga with the most famous Roman ruins in Portugal, are a 90-minute drive. Other nearby treasures include the ancient atmosphere of the village of Celorico da Beira, with its impressive castle and solitary standing stone. The Atlantic coast is a one-hour drive west.  

LOCATION

Juncais, Portugal. Nearest Airport: Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport (175km)  

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year round. The property is located in the mountains and has a small ski resort close by.