Formerly a 12th Century Cistercian
Monastery this hotel Pousada is near Amares in the Minho region of
Northern Portugal.
The restoration of this Pousada has won many prestigious awards and
was under the direction of the famous modern day architect Eduardo Souto
Moura.
It is situated between the
historic town of Braga and Peneda Geres National Park and is
an ideal base for exploring the beautiful Minho area of Portugal.
This idyllic setting, surrounded
by lush fields and vineyards where the famous Vinho Verde wine is produced,
together with the beautiful architecture of the Pousada ensures a peaceful
and utterly relaxing stay.
Approximately 15 kilometres
away is the ancient town of Braga, the religious capital of Portugal, with
many fine churches, the most important of which is the Se (Cathedral),
originally built in the 11th Century on the site of a Moorish mosque.
The Se has been added to
through the centuries and contains a wealth of architectural gems.
The museum houses a collection
of religious treasures from the 11th Century onwards.
In the Capela dos Reis the
naturally mummified body of Archbishop Lourenco can be viewed.
Three kilometres to the north
of Braga is the Capela de Sao Frutuoso, one of the oldest churches in the
country, dating from the 7th Century, and four kilometres to the east is
the church Bom Jesus do Monte.
Surrounded by beautiful gardens
this church is reached by a stunning baroque staircase, of over 1000 steps,
or by funicular for the fainthearted!
To experience, probably the
most beautiful countryside in Portugal, a visit to Portugal's only National
Park (Peneda Geres) is a must.
It has been described as
"this green terraced paradise with a back drop of austere granite mountains
is a haven to many endangered species of flora and fauna". It also contains
sites of many ancient settlements from prehistoric and Celtic civilisations".
The town of Amares is about
18 kilometres away.
Pousada de Amares has 2 deluxe and 30 standard bedrooms, some inter-connecting, all with en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, Cable television, mini-bar, hair dryer, locker, bathing gowns and phone.
It is air conditioned and facilities include restaurant, bar, terrace, lift, swimming pool, snooker and family games, parking and conference facilities.
The restaurants of the Pousada
group hotels offer a variety of dishes including a selection of local and
regional specialities.
Activities available in this
area include bird watching (ornithology), hunting, river fishing, horse
riding, bicycle tours, 4 wheel driving, water sports, shooting range, paintball
etc.
The international airport
at Porto (Oporto) is approximately 68 kilometers from this Pousada of Portugal.
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