Lousã: Discover Hiking, Schist Villages and Nature

Lousã combines the landscape of the Serra da Lousã with historic buildings, schist villages, waterways and regional traditions. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment for a varied stay will find different travel ideas here: signposted hikes, challenging mountain trails, nature experiences, culture and a bathing area on the Ribeira de São João. Coimbra can also be reached via the EN 17 in just over 25 minutes by car.

Hiking trails with different focuses

The Rede de Percursos Pedestres da Lousã comprises ten short hiking routes with a total of 61.8 signposted kilometres, homologated by the Federação de Campismo e Montanhismo de Portugal. This allows you to plan your day around your preferred route and the experience you want.

The Rota dos Moinhos of PR1 LSA begins near the Igreja Matriz da Lousã. It offers views of the waterfall of the Ribeira das Hortas, passes through the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Piedade and reaches the Fábrica do Papel do Prado, founded in 1716. PR2 LSA – Caminho do Xisto da Lousã connects Castelo da Lousã and Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Piedade with the schist villages of Talasnal and Casal Novo. Along the way, the trail passes the Central Hidroeléctrica da Ermida, an industrial archaeology site dating from 1927.

For a more challenging tour, there is the Rota do Trevim of PR4 LSA. It leads to the highest point of the Serra da Lousã and offers far-reaching views. Those who prefer travelling on two wheels can include the Centro de BTT da Lousã – Aldeias do Xisto in their plans, with the disciplines of cross-country, downhill and enduro, as well as routes rated green, blue, red and black for difficulty.

Nature and schist villages

Several routes lead through protected landscapes. The Rota da Levada of PR3 LSA runs within the Rede Natura 2000 and leads to biodiversity refuges in the Serra da Lousã. The Rota Bosques do Catarredor of PR5 LSA is also located within the Rede Natura 2000 and includes impressive examples of native forest vegetation. The Rota À Descoberta da Floresta of PR7 LSA leads to a biodiversity protection area associated with the Rede Natura 2000.

A special option is Descobrir a Mata do Sobral: the informal footpath is 7.6 kilometres long and includes 20 geocaches. It is integrated into the Rede Natura 2000 at the Sítio Serra da Lousã site. The five mountain settlements of Lousã in the Aldeias do Xisto network – Candal, Casal Novo, Cerdeira, Chiqueiro and Talasnal – have been documented since the 16th century. Candal is situated amphitheatrically on the slopes of the Serra da Lousã and is crossed by the Ribeira do Candal. Cerdeira offers international artist residencies, training workshops and small creative activities.

Castles, museums and regional traditions

Castelo de Arouce was part of one of the first defence lines for controlling the southern approaches to Coimbra in the second half of the 11th century and was first mentioned in a document in 1087. Its interpretation and reception centre provides information about the castle and the Concelho. The Museu Municipal Prof. Álvaro Viana de Lemos houses the Welcome Center of the Aldeias do Xisto, with specialised information about the schist villages. The Museu Etnográfico Dr. Louzã Henriques presents Portuguese rural life as it prevailed until the 1950s and 1960s.

For a more relaxing complement to hiking, Praia Fluvial Senhora da Piedade offers the opportunity to swim in the waters of the Ribeira de São João; the bathing area is located in Lousã next to the castle. The town's culinary offering includes the annual Festival Gastronómico da Chanfana and the Loja do Xisto, where bread, cheese and sweet dishes are made according to traditional methods.

A holiday apartment in Lousã as a base

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can first decide whether hiking trails, schist villages, culture, swimming or cycling tours should be the focus of your trip. Lousã combines these themes with regular public passenger transport services as part of the intermunicipal transport system of CIM Região de Coimbra and the Sistema de Mobilidade do Mondego.

For further location options, you can explore Lousã and Serpins as separate destinations on the portal.

Other destinations

Other places under the same destination:

Vila Nova De Poiares, Soure, Condeixa-A-Nova, Marinha Das Ondas, Cepos.

To the higher-level travel overview: Coimbra.