Marvão in November - Chestnut Festival

The chestnut is probably one of the first foods eaten by man and dates back to prehistoric times. The chestnut tree was first introduced to Europe via Greece.

In Portugal as well as other Catholic countries in Europe, chestnuts are traditionally eaten on Saint Martin's Day which is on the 11th November. "Fire, nuts and wine," is the popular saying.  Celebrations in honor of this generous saint, one of the most popular in the West, warm the heart and make you forget how cold it is already being felt at this time of year.

Marvão, Alto Alentejo in Autumn is a beautiful place to visit, enjoy the colour of the countryside and take a walk in the stunning hills of the Serra de São Mamede. Join the celebrations of the Chestnut fair (Feira da Castanha / Festa do Castanheiro) held on the second weekend of November. The streets are lined with stalls selling genuine Portuguese handcrafts, artists demonstrating their traditional skills, various street artists and folk music and of course chestnuts and delicious chestnut cakes.
Another attraction is the Chestnut Gourmet Food Fortnight which runs 1-16 November, with participating restaurants in the area.

A stay at the 'self-catering cottage' Casa do Brasão is an excellent way to go. It can sleep up to six people, has a garden, terrace, patio and wood-burning stove.
See the special offer on
ONE OFF PLACES

A new image of Casa do Brasao on Google maps and Google Earth

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=casa+do+brasao&sll=39.4965,-8.00865&sspn=119.031,360&ie=UTF8&v=2.2&cv=4.3.7204.0836&hl=en&ei=aMYGSvrZFcnMjAfH6rjaCQ&cd=1&dtab=5&cid=39434488,-7360687,14781204345423571709&li=lmd&z=14&t=m

Marvao Chestnut Festival

Why not visit Marvão in the Alto Alentejo on the second weekend of November and join in the tradition of the chesnut festival.
The streets are lined with stalls selling genuine Portuguese handcrafts, artists demonstrating their traditional skills, various street artists and folk music. And of course chestnuts and delicious chestnut cakes.
Marvão is an imposing and peaceful town on the highest crest of the Serra de São Mamede Natural park. It was used as a place of refuge by Ibn Marúan, a Moorish warrior, during the 9th century.The Arab domination ended with the military campaign of the Christian forces led by D. Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal.
Take time out and walk around the picturesque walled town of of white houses, narrow cobbled streets, Gothic arches, Manueline windows and the magnificent castle, with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
A great day out for the family, and they even sell candy floss for the kids!
SEE THE SPECIAL OFFER TO STAY AT CASA DO BRASAO
On ONE OFF PLACES

http://www.cm-marvao.pt/

Autumn walks in the Alto Alentejo

After a long hot summer we will return to crisp autumn days and a landscape full of rich colours with more agreeable teperatures. It's time to get your walking boots out to discover the delights of this region.
Walk through cork oak forests and olive grooves, along roman roads past ancient dolmens and through historic towns and villages.
Casa do Brasao in the small village of Barretos is perfectly placed for you to find all that this wonderful area has to offer. This stylish self catering cottage near Marvao and Castelo de Vide is the ideal base for your walking holiday, providing walking maps and other useful information to make your stay more enjoyable.

CASA DO BRASAO

The cork oak trees at our self catering cottage near Marvao

Our cork oak bark has at last been harvested.
Ever since purchasing Casa do Brasao we have been wondering when it would happen as it is only harvested every nine years, leaving a beautiful rich red hue to the trunk.
Traditionally cork was a strong industry here with Portugal supplying 50% of the total world production. Over recent years we have seen the importance of this industry decline primarily due to the introduction of plastic corks in bottles. However this ecological material is making a come back in lots of different ways, e.g. roads, boats, tiles, insulation and lot of other products.
It would be good to think that our small contribution would go to the traditional bottle of wine like the locally produced Pedra Basta, a great red wine from the slopes of the Serra de Sao Mamede, named after the stone granite found in the vineyard.
And now our cottage has a rejuvenated look, blending in perfectly with it's natural surroundings.
A STYLISH SELF CATERING COTTAGE NEAR MARVAO

A wonderful film of Marvão, a fortified town in Portugal.

A wonderful film of Marvão, see link:

http://vimeo.com/25161863

New airport opened in the Alentejo

Portugal's Alentejo region is poor, uncrowded, wildly beautiful – and now linked by direct flights to Heathrow.
see link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/may/21/portugal-alentejo-new-flights 

Another way to arrive at Casa do Brasão A self-catering cottage situated on the edge of a small typical Alentejo village with garden & plunge pool. Situated near the town of Marvão an imposing and peaceful town on the highest crest of the Serra de São Mamede Natural park.