North Portugal Tourism Guide - Lousa

Lousa, Central Portugal, Tourism Guide

Lousa is 25 kilometres southeast of Coimbra and is ideally suited for exploring the wonderful countryside around it. Lousa lies at the south-westerly edge of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park and the Serra da Lousa lies to its south. These areas together with Serra Acor make up a large area of rugged, rocky mountains teeming with wildlife. These are relatively unexplored areas of countryside great for walking and hiking.

Lousa town itself has an older core to a more modern town that has grown up around it. While the town has an array of intricately decorated chapels and 18th century casas brasonadas - heraldic mansions, the tourist highlight of Lousa is the castle. It lies uphill from the town and takes about forty-minutes walk or a short drive. The castle is built out of the local stone, Silurian schist, except for the decoration around the door of the keep which is made of white gritstone. You can get some fabulous views out across the wooded valley and the River Mondego below.

On the hill opposite the castle is the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Piedade. This is a small Carmelite hermitage and includes three chapels: Our Lady of Pity, Saint John and Our Lady of Agony. The sanctuary includes fifteenth century painted limestone sculptures of Sao Paio and Saint John the Evangelist.

Serra da Lousa Mountains and Wildlife

Most people come to Lousa as a springboard for outdoor recreation. The Serra da Lousa mountain range is the nearest although it's easy to get into the Serra da Estrela Natural Park to the east.

The Serra da Lousa mountain range covers over 4,200 hectares with its highest point of 1,202 metres at Alto do Trevim. The underlying rock is dominated by schist which gives rise to a temperate forest habitat over much of the hillsides. Trees and shrubs in the woodlands include holly, laurel, birch, American oak, chestnut, cedar and pine with old coppices of oak around the villages. Cork oak and olive trees are more common on the lower slopes with heathers and gorse dominating the thinner soils on the upper slopes.

Apart from independent exploring of the area by walking and hiking around the Serra da Lousa and lazing around on the many river-beaches, the area is popular for all sorts of recreational activities such as canoeing, cycling and mountain biking, hang-gliding and 4x4 driving.

Outdoor Adventure Activity Companies

Outdoor activity companies that offer a range of days out, courses or equipment hire in the region are:

Montes d'Aventura, Rua dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra, No 3, Bloco 2, 4 Esq 3200-216 Lousa. Tel: 351 916 152 704 or 916 804 493. Email: geral@montesdaventura.com

Trans Serrano, Bairro de Sao Paulo, 13, 3330-304 Gois. Tel: 351 235 778 938. Mobile: 351 966 217 787. Email: geral@transserrano.com

Down Stream, Rua de Mocabique, 159 Piso 2, Codigo Postal: 3030 Coimbra. Tel: 351 239716930. Mobile: 351 966087358. Email: rleao@down-stream.net

Travel to and Around Lousa

Trains travel to Lousa from Coimbra's Parque station ending at Lousa A, which makes it a popular day-trip destination from the city. Buses also stop in the main square in Lousa.

The Tourist Information Office is in the local museum on Rua Joao Luso, 3200 - 246 Lousa. Tel: 351 239 990 040. Fax: 351 239 990 049. Email: geral@cm-lousa.pt. It is open all year from 9 am-12.30 pm and 2-5.30 pm. Sat-Sun 10 am-12.30 pm and 2.30-4 pm.

Try the town's website and click on the Turimso section where they a range of maps including how to get to the town and a map of walks in the area. They also have downloadable timetables for public transport.

It is often easier to have your own transport when travelling around these more mountainous regions. You can arrange your car hire before you go - check out the Holiday Autos link right for a quick quote. Car hire can be picked up in many of the bigger towns in the region like Coimbra, Covilha, Castelo Branco, Guarda and Viseu.