A former 13th Century Manor
House with some rooms and suites having their own courtyards. Views over the River Minho in North Portugal.
This Pousada is in the centre
of Vila Nova de Cerveira, a small walled town which was built on the orders of the
King D. Diniz in 1400.
It is situated on the banks
of the River Minho which forms the northern border between Portugal and
Spain.
A recently built bridge enables
guests to drive across to the Spanish region of Galicia which has many
interesting places to visit.
In Galicia you have the city
and Port of Vigo, the delightful sailing town of Baiona (Bayona), the beaches
of the stunning nature reserve of the Islas de Cies and the world famous
pilgrimage city of Santiago do Compostela.
Opportunity should be taken
to sample the Galician food which, like the language, changes completely when you
cross the river.
Vila Nova de Cerveira is
famous for its Biennial Fine Arts Festival held in August and September.
This festival has resulted
in a number of interesting sculptures in the town.
Near the Pousada, in a small
garden, is a sculpture of a rock supported by a tripod which has become
the symbol of the Arts Festival.
A former 18th Century Manor
House in the town, Solar dos Castros, has a striking statue of a group
of men who won the first prize in the competition a few years ago.
In 1942 the old town was
restored and, in 1982 some of the buildings, including the chapel became
the Pousada.
For this restoration and
concept, the scheme was awarded the coveted 'Europa Nostra' architectural prize.
The rooms and suites have
their own courtyards and they are all located within the old walls giving
the impression of a small, medieval citadel.
The restaurant at the Pousada
has superb views over the River Minho, its beautiful valley and the mountains
of Galicia in the distance.
The Pousada has 26 standard rooms
and 3 superior suites, some with balcony.
The bedrooms all have private
bathroom, air conditioning, telephone, Cable television, mini-bar and hair
dryer.
Facilities at the Pousada
include restaurant, bar, snooker, family games, non-smoking rooms and conference
facilities.
Nearby in Vila Nova de Cerveira
there is a new indoor community heated swimming pool.
Dining in Portugal is usually
very good. The restaurants of the Pousada group hotels offer a variety
of dishes including a selection of local and regional specialities.
Activities in the area include
hunting, river fishing, golf, country walks, cycling, cruises, four-wheel
driving, four-wheel motorbikes, sailing, rowing, canoeing, horse riding
and carriage tours.
From this location there
are many places to visit, the old walled town of Valenca is only 16 kilometers
away. If visiting make sure you go to the Fort (Fortaleza) with many shops
and restaurants.
The delightful old sailing
town of Viana do Castelo, approximatley 40 kilometers away, should
not be missed.
The city of Porto is
approx a 50 minute drive and a visit to the Port Wine Lodges is
an interesting day out.
Also, Braga and Guimaraes
which has been classified a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Approximatley
40 minutes by car is the only National Park in Portugal, the Peneda Geres which is a must for lovers of the countryside.
For golfers you have the
Ponte de Lima golf course which has been described as 'championship
golf at municipal prices'.
The international airport
at Porto (Oporto) is approximately 117 kilometers from this Pousada of Portugal.
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