Raza Farmhouse and Montinho Farm Cottage Renovated to a Very High Standard with Large Pool
Very Secluded Private Rural Setting with Views of Vale de Rodam and Marvão Castle
2 and 3 Bedroom Houses
|
|
Situated in the Vale de Rodam, near Marvão and Castelo de Vide and within the São Mamede Natural Parque. Monte Raza is a 300 year old farmhouse renovated to a very high standard with 3 double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and open-plan kitchen, eating and sitting area including a traditional breadoven and stone fireplace. Features a vine covered patio perfect for outdoor meals. Montinho is a fully renovated farm cottage with two double bedrooms and bathrooms, open-plan fully equipped kitchen and eating and sitting areas. They are situated in 60 acres of pastures, oak forest, organic orchard and olive grove. 'Montinho' farm cottage and 'Monte Raza' farmhouse are totally independent adjoining properties which can be let together or separately. The properties share a 12m (1.8m deep) saline swimming pool with lawn and gardens. Together they comfortably sleep 10, ideal for a large family or 2 family groups.
|
|
| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 2 January 2012 - 16 June 2012 | €760 | 2 | ||
| 16 June 2012 - 15 September 2012 | €1100 | 2 | ||
| 15 September 2012 - 22 December 2012 | €760 | 2 |
Montinho (2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 5) Prices
| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 2 January 2012 - 16 June 2012 | €750 | 2 | ||
| 16 June 2012 - 15 September 2012 | €660 | 2 | ||
| 15 September 2012 - 22 December 2012 | €750 | 2 |
Notes on prices
Monte Moita Raza - Prices displayed are for 4 and 6 guests.
Montinho Cottage - Prices displayed are for 2 and 4 guests.
Prices are for the property per week in euros - exchange rate conversion calculated at time of booking.
Infants under 2 are free of charge - 2 cots available. Prices include Portuguese VAT at 6%.
Changeover day
Changeover day, Saturday.
|
Montinho (2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 5)
|
|
|
Bedrooms: Double bedroom with handpainted double bed and furniture and en-suite bathroom with bath and shower. Double doors lead onto a private patio with views of the Rodam valley and Marvão castle. Twin bedroom with handpainted Alentejana beds and furniture and adjoining bathroom with sunflowerhead shower. Fully equipped kitchen open-plan with wooden dining table, comfortable sitting area with large stone fireplace and logburner, all under 1 vaulted chestnut wooden ceiling. |
|
Notes on accommodation
Amenities provided:
All fresh towels and bed-linen are provided on a weekly basis. A complimentary welcome food pack is provided on arrival including a bottle of local wine and home grown olive oil.
Each house has: hob/stove - oven- fridge/freezer - microwave - dishwasher - TV/DVD - telephone - wifi Internet - central heating - woodburning stove - cot - extra folding beds - shared saline swimming pool.
There is full central heating for the cooler months, as well as a log-burner in each house. Logs are provided from the farm.
There is a separate laundry room, with washing machine and dryer, iron and ironing board; for the use of both houses.
Outside
The houses are situated in their own 60 acres of stonewalled fields with oak and olive trees. The pool area is lawned and very relaxing, and has barbecue facilities and outdoor chairs and tables. The rocky hillside covered in wild lavender and broom is a favourite area to scramble and explore. Walk to Marvão for lunch up medieval tracks. It will take you a good hour, or more if you stop to enjoy the amazing views over the Spanish sierras, and identify the wild flowers and butterflies and birds as you climb.
Wild boar are endemic to the area as are a wide range of birds of prey.
Golf
The beautiful and challenging 18-hole Ammaia golf course, set under the Marvão cliffs, is temporarily closed for green renewal, but is expected to re-open later in 2012.
Special interest holidays
Birdwatching: Guests at Monte Raza and Montinho will be given advice on the best spots in the area to see the different bird species and you can arrange with Peter to go on a guided tour. A half day trip will cost you the price of the fuel and lunch! See a wide range of birds including egrets, vultures, eagles, greater and lesser bustard, black-shouldered kite, azure-winged magpie, hoopoe, blue rock-thrush, bee-eaters and many more.
We can arrange a boat trip through the spectacular Tagus gorge near Nisa, half an hour away, where griffon and Egyptian vultures, bonellis eagle, eagle owl and black stork nest.
The wild Sever valley is nearby which you can explore and has many bird species as well as red deer, otters and mongoose, as well as being the Spanish border river.
Walking: Exploring the medieval tracks through the hills is a must and we will provide you with self-guided maps and description of the walks starting from Moita Raza or nearby. Alternatively, go on a led walk.
Travel
Lisbon airport is 2 hours drive. Advice on car hire will be provided on request.
From airport, you can take the south route through the cork forests and white villages of the Alentejo via Estremoz and Portalegre to Castelo de Vide.
Or the north route through wilder country up the Tagus valley via Abrantes and Alpalhão.
Ferry to Santander in northern Spain, then drive via Madrid or Salamanca. All motorway, then main road from Cáceres via Valencia de Alcantara to the Portuguese frontier.
Distances
Marvão: 6 km. World Heritage candidate. An amazing walled village and castle on a clifftop.
Portagem: 6 km. Restaurants below Marvão with views of the floodlit castle at night.
Castelo de Vide: 6 km. Shops, cafes and restaurants. Visit the Jewish quarter below the castle.
Valencia de Alcantara: 25 km. In Spain. Visit the Monday street market.
Portalegre: 20 km. Capital of the Alto Alentejo. Visit the cork factory for unusual gifts from the shop, and see the famous tapestries being made.
Further details
Life has changed very little in this part of Portugal for centuries. Bread is still baked using traditional methods and cheeses, regional wines, honey and olives remain the mainstay of the local diet. The English owners of Raza have been farming near Elvas for more than 25 years and are now involved in agri-environmental consultancy and rural tourism. It goes without saying that they have an extensive knowledge of the area and the Portuguese way of life. Peter and Rosemary make a point of trying to be at the house to welcome you when you arrive. There is a phone in the house so that you can contact them in case of difficulty. They are also available to give you advice and information should you require it.
Swimming - besides the swimming pool, river bathing is available on the River Sever at Portagem and at various lakes in the area, the most convenient being Apartadura (6km) and Barragem do Póvoa (10km). There are superb municipal swimming pools at Castelo de Vide (6 km) including an indoor heated pool.
Mountain Bikes: there are 8 mountain bikes available for guests and many tracks to explore and the local roads are perfect for cycling with virtually no traffic!
Birdwatching and Walking: see special interest activities.
Riding - Cordero the mule and Improvisto the donkey are residents of Raza and Montinho properties and can be ridden to explore the farm. Riding can be organized locally and a visit to the National Horse Stud at Alter do Chão cannot be missed.
Rock climbing and abseiling under supervision can be arranged nearby.
Tennis courts in Castelo de Vide.
Fishing - Bass and Carp fishing on the Caia and Apartadura lakes. Private fishing can be arranged on a 4 hectare Alfarofia lake near Elvas where the Portuguese record carp was caught this year, weighing 24kg or 52 lbs! You will need a licence which can be obtained in Portalegre.
Booking notes
To confirm your booking,a 50% deposit is payable via bank transfer or a cheque. The remaining 50% is payable 15 days in advance.
Owner profile
Peter and Rosemary
About the owner
Peter and Rosemary Eden have lived and worked in this beautiful part of the Alentejo for more than 25 years where they have been involved in farming and wildlife and landscape conservation. So consequently have a deep knowledge and contact with local people, culture and nature, and are happy to pass on advice and contacts for those who wish a closer contact with the local life.
But we are careful leave visitors in total peace and quiet who simply wish to 'chill-out'.
Our self-catering rural tourism grew out of a natural progression for increasingly uneconomic small family farms which have created the diverse landscape in these hills. The farmhouses have been carefully renovated to maintain original features, but also offer a good standard of comfort to our visitors.
Year purchased: 2000
Why the owner chose a home in this location
We bought Monte da Moita Raza 10 years ago as a small working farm in a very beautiful valley below the amazing castle of Marvão set high up on a craggy outcrop. We maintain a small flock of black merino sheep and pick the olives in November to produce delicious olive oil which is available for our guests.
The picturesque whitewashed villages, many with their own castles to be explored, is where you can enjoy the cafes and buy local handicrafts. Life has changed little in this part of Portugal for centuries. Bread is still baked using traditional methods and cheeses, regional wines, honey, chestnuts, olives and olive oil, as well as the acorn fattened black pig hams and sausages remain the mainstay of the local diet, and can be enjoyed in the restaurants nearby.
Unique benefits of the property
Visitors to Monte da Moita Raza will enjoy the pure peace and quiet, the wonderful views from the shaded patio while enjoying a glass of the local wine with a slice of local choriço and a chunk of local sheep or goat cheese.
A well earned treat after lazying in the pool or maybe for the more energetic after walking one of the cobbled medieval tracks or cycling up to Marvao.
Many of our visitors have become good friends and keep coming back. They fall in love with the area.
Despite the exciting castles and walled villages along this frontier, the Portuguese people are far from bellicose! In fact they are most friendly and welcoming and will go out of their way to help.
For booking and further information
Property Ref P4876
Peter and Rosemary Eden
Mobile: (Portugal) + 351 962467875
Owners Website: Click here
Send an email to owner
This form may only be used for genuine enquiries about renting this property.
Use of this form for other purposes including unsolicited commercial marketing is strictly prohibited.
Your message will be sent by email to the property owner.
Owners Direct also retains an archive copy for the property owner to refer to.
If you do not receive a reply to this email within 2 or 3 days, please try contacting the owner by telephone.
Your email address will be added to our mailing list, for receipt of occasional newsletters and holiday information.
If you do not wish to be added to this mailing list, please uncheck the box above.
Please refer to our privacy policy.
International Dialling Access Codes:
From Europe dial 00 in place of +
From USA dial 011 in place of +
If phoning from outside Europe or USA please consult your telephone directory for international dialling access codes.
This advertiser joined Owners Direct in November 2005,
and has advertised this property with us since February 2008.
Property Ref P4876
When contacting the owner please mention that you saw this property on Owners Direct Website.