Tag Archives: Alto Alentejo

Weekend in Évora – Day 1

Posted on July 11, 2016 | Leave a comment

Cycling Tour of Évora

Departure From The Ecorkhotel

The night was too short. I always need to redo my suitcase X times until no time … As a result, now my dream team is already on bikes, while I have a green tea break in the patio of the Ecorkhotel (photo below).

In front of the hotel, our two guides including Teresa Vilas Boas, the owner of Touraventur, explain us our bike tour of Évora (photos below). We start by crossing countryside, because the Ecorkhotel is located on the outskirts of the city and historic center classified World Heritage by Unesco.

The Capela dos Ossos

We stop at the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), built in the 16th century by a Franciscan monk. Upon the entry, it says: “Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos” (“We bones that here are, for yours await”, traduction Wikipedia).

The Beautiful University of Évora

We take up our bikes and the street steeply climbs and then goes down! This is the first time I use a bike with gears (I think so, LOL)! What a surprise when visiting the Évora University, built by the Jesuits in 1559 and closed in 1759 by the Marquis of Pombal!

The walls of classrooms and corridors are covered with Azulejos (photos below). The kind of university where I would have liked studying!

Wine Tasting and Shopping

To be honest, I’m not fond of the wine tasting, except when I visit a “terroir” (vineyards) or have a wine tasting course like in the Ecole des vins de Bordeaux (the School of Bordeaux wines, in Bordeaux, France). But I really enjoy the decor of the Ervideira wine cellar in a small shopping street in the historic center (left below).

Just opposite, I discovered a restaurant very popular with the local youth … and just about everyone: the Páteo. Before the last bike climb in narrow streets leading to the famous Roman Temple from the second century, I spot these beautiful colorful dishes. And to buy homemade jams : Loja Mó sells products made by people with a handicap.

Pictured below: near the Roman Temple, the Convent of Lóios which is now a pousada. Around 3 p.m., we have lunch. By late afternoon, I finally bring my luggage in the Vitória Stone Hotel, a new design hotel. Well, I feel fantastic, just a few leg cramps (LOL)! To be continued…

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Visit Alentejo, Visit Portugal & Turaventur

Related posts : DESTINATIONS, LIFESTYLE & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to Visit Alentejo and Visit Portugal for this amazing invitation. Also thanks to the great team of Turaventur to turn this bike tour in real pleasure! As always these are my opinions.

Week-end à Évora – Jour 1

Posted on July 11, 2016 | Leave a comment

Tour d’Évora à vélo

Départ sportif de l’Ecorkhotel

La nuit a été trop courte : toujours ce besoin de refaire X fois ma valise, jusqu’à pas d’heure… Résultat, toute la petite équipe est déjà sur les vélos, tandis que je fais une pause thé vert dans le patio de l’Ecorkhotel (photo ci-dessous).

Devant l’hôtel, nos deux guides, dont Teresa Vilas Boas, la propriétaire de Touraventur, nous briefent sur notre tour d’Évora à vélo (photos ci-dessous). Nous commençons par un brin de campagne, car l’Ecorkhotel est situé en périphérie de la ville et du centre historique classé patrimoine mondial de l’Unesco.

La Capela dos Ossos

Nous nous arrêtons à la Chapelle des Os (Capela dos Ossos), construite au XVI^e siècle par un moine franciscain. Dès l’entrée, on peut lire : “Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos” (“Nous, les os ici présents, attendons que les vôtres nous rejoignent”, traduction Wikipedia).

La superbe Université d’Évora

On reprend nos vélos et là, ça monte raide… puis redescend aussi sec! C’est la première fois que j’utilise un vélo avec des vitesses (enfin je crois, LOL)! Quelle surprise en visitant l’Université d’Évora, construite par les jésuites en 1559 et fermée en 1759 par le Marquis de Pombal!

Les murs des salles de cours et couloirs sont couverts d’Azulejos (photos ci-dessous). Le genre d’université où j’aurai aimé étudier!

Dégustation de vins et shopping

Pour être honnête, je ne suis pas passionnée par les dégustations de vins, sauf lorsque je visite un terroir, ou suis un cours de dégustation comme à l’Ecole des vins de Bordeaux. Mais j’aime la déco de la cave à vin Ervideira dans une petite rue commerçante du centre historique (photo de gauche ci-dessous).

Juste en face, je découvre une des terrasses-restaurants-concerts très prisée par la jeunesse locale… et peu tout le monde : le Páteo. Avant d’attaquer une dernière montée à vélo dans d’étroites rues menant au fameux temple romain du II^e siècle, je repère ces superbes plats multicolores. Et pour acheter des confitures artisanales : Loja Mó vend des produits réalisés par des personnes ayant un handicape.

En photo ci-dessous : près du temple romain, le couvent des Lóios, aujourd’hui transformé en pousada. Vers 15h, nous déjeunons. En fin de journée, je pose enfin mes affaires au Vitória Stone Hotel, un nouvel hôtel design. Je suis hummm… en pleine forme (lol)! A suivre…

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Visit Portugal, Visit Alentejo & Turaventur

Autres articles : DESTINATIONS, LIFESTYLE & HOTEL REVIEWS

Un grand merci à Visit Alentejo et à Visit Portugal pour cette superbe invitation. Merci aussi à l’équipe de Turaventur pour avoir transformé ce tour à vélo en plaisir! Comme toujours, ce sont mes opinions.

Portugal: Alentejo Road Trip

Posted on July 5, 2016 | 4 comments

Near Arronches

Bela Natureza

This morning, departure from Avis towards Arronches, in the district of Portalegre (Alto Alentejo, close to the Spanish border). On the program: visit the most important group of prehistoric cave paintings outdoors in Portugal, in the Junco Valley (Vale de Junco).

Classified national monument, they were designed between 4000 and 2000 years before Christ and represent the consecration of the place: the scientific interpretations differ (photo below). Last year I returned to the superb Archaeological Museum of Côa (Centre of Portugal). I am fan: child, I wanted to be a paleontologist, archaeologist …

Magnificent nature! We continue with a walk on the walking path PR1 ARR “Feel Alentejo Nature” – Percurso Pedestrian da Esperança (about 6km / 1:45 / low difficulty level) in the Serra of Sao Mamede Natural Park. Better than a thousand words, a few photos! And old girlfriends, cows ; )

Estremoz

The Old Town

Estremoz for lunch. I really enjoy the small intimate streets of the old town, deserted at lunchtime. Occasionally, a silhouette crosses. The contrast between blue sky and white walls, brightness, the South. As a photographer, I need a beautiful natural light!

What I also really like in Portugal, Japan and Croatia: it’s clean, streets are super clean. A real pleasure!

The Lunch

A place not to miss the Mercearia Gadanha restaurant, where we had a long lunch. Very good food in a cool atmosphere and decoration (photos below). And for chocolate addicts: a large selection of chocolates (including Belgian chocolates) in the deli section of the restaurant.

Monsaraz

Open-air Museum

Like Saint Emilion in France, Monsaraz is an open-air museum medieval city in which you aimlessly wander … Just for the pleasure. And enjoy an Alentejo wine tasting on the rooftop terrace of the Ervideira winery.

Some boho shops, winding clean streets and an arena that in September and Easter hosts bullfighting festivals. And panoramic views of the river Rio Guadiana (last photo). Now we drive to the famous Évora.