Casa de São Lourenço

Portugal

THE PERSONALITIES

Nature and wellness enthusiasts. Design and architecture lovers. Honeymoooners with a taste for luxury. Stargazers. Photographers. Wool connoisseurs. Corporate and Retreat Groups.

MOMENTS

Portugal’s highest peaks. Panoramic views to the Glacial Valley. Landscape that becomes art. Centuries-old traditions. Heritage meets contemporary design. Nighttime swims under a star-filled sky.

“Rustic comfort, good taste, easy display and flavor, kind simplicity… and poetry, some poetry…” - Rogério de Azevedo, 1943.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

Casa de São Lourenço offers a unique experience year-round, with each season transforming the Serra da Estrela mountains into a breathtaking new landscape.

Winter (December–February) blankets the peaks in snow, creating a magical retreat perfect for cozy mountain stays, spa relaxation, and enjoying Portugal’s only ski slopes.

Spring (March–May) brings blooming wildflowers and lush greenery, making it an ideal time for panoramic hikes and discovering the region’s rich biodiversity.

In summer (June–August), the warmer temperatures invite guests to explore the high-altitude trails, scenic picnic spots, and traditional transhumance, where shepherds guide their flocks to cooler pastures.

Autumn (September–November) paints the valleys in golden hues, offering crisp air, rich seasonal cuisine, and clear skies perfect for stargazing.

COST

WHY STAY

Casa de São Lourenço is a panoramic landscape hotel set high in the Serra da Estrela mountains, offering breathtaking views of Portugal’s highest peaks. Originally designed in 1940 by architect Rogério de Azevedo, the hotel has been reimagined to embrace its stunning surroundings while preserving its historic essence. The landscape plays a central role in the experience, with vast horizons of rugged granite cliffs, rolling greenery, and crisp mountain air. Positioned in perfect harmony with nature, the hotel provides guests with an immersive escape where the ever-changing light and seasonal beauty of the mountains become part of the stay.

Blending heritage with contemporary design, Casa de São Lourenço maintains its legacy as one of Portugal’s first Inns—small, inviting hotels created to offer an intimate connection with the land and its traditions. The architecture seamlessly integrates modern comfort with rustic charm, featuring natural materials like wood, stone, and burel wool, a traditional fabric crafted from the region’s sheep. The interiors are warm and elegant, with handcrafted details and large panoramic windows that frame the landscape like living artwork. Every space reflects a deep appreciation for local craftsmanship, reinforcing the hotel’s commitment to authenticity and sustainability. A key part of this heritage is the connection to the nearby Burel Factory, which keeps alive the ancient art of wool production. Guests can visit the factory to witness 19th-century looms in action and learn how burel is transformed into durable textiles, deeply embedded in the cultural identity of the region.

Beyond its striking design, the hotel is a sanctuary of wellness. Guests can indulge in the mountain spa, where treatments are inspired by the purity of the surroundings, or unwind in the heated outdoor pool with uninterrupted views of the peaks. The rooms, designed for comfort and contemplation, invite guests to disconnect from the world and reconnect with nature. Whether enjoying the local gastronomy, discovering the artistry of burel wool, taking in the poetic beauty of the mountains, or simply breathing in the fresh alpine air, Casa de São Lourenço offers an experience where history, design, and nature merge seamlessly into a luxurious yet deeply rooted retreat.

WHY WANDER

Casa de São Lourenço offers a range of immersive experiences that celebrate the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Serra da Estrela. Guests can explore over 250 kilometers of scenic trails through guided panoramic walks, or take an in-depth journey with UNESCO-recognized Estrela Geopark tours, led by expert guides and ending with a gourmet picnic. For a different perspective, panoramic jeep tours traverse the mountain ridges, offering sweeping views, while electric bike rides provide an effortless and eco-friendly way to explore the region’s hidden gems. These outdoor adventures allow visitors to connect with the landscape at their own pace, discovering winding paths, dramatic cliffs, and serene river beaches.

The hotel offers extraordinary dining and stargazing experiences. Guests can enjoy a gourmet lunch on the mountain or indulge in a nighttime swim in the heated outdoor pool under a star-filled sky. An astronomer-led stargazing session makes use of the hotel's prime mountain-top location to explore celestial wonders.

For those drawn to Serra da Estrela’s cultural roots, Casa de São Lourenço offers unique opportunities to engage with its centuries-old traditions. A visit to the Burel Factory reveals the region’s rich textile heritage, showcasing 19th-century looms and the intricate process of transforming wool into burel fabric. Guests can also witness the seasonal sheep shearing in May and June, or experience the transhumance in summer, when shepherds guide their flocks to higher pastures. Spending a day with the shepherds provides an intimate look at their way of life, deepening the connection between visitors and the land.

INDULGE IN

At Casa de São Lourenço, dining is an immersive journey through the rich culinary heritage of the Beiras region. The restaurant embraces the seasonality of the mountains, using fresh, local ingredients to craft dishes that honor ancestral recipes while adding a contemporary touch. Guests are invited to experience the depth of regional flavors, enhanced by the creativity of Chef Manuel Figueira. Each meal is a celebration of the land, reflecting the natural rhythms of Serra da Estrela’s changing seasons.

GETTING THERE

Getting to Casa de São Lourenço is a scenic journey that immerses travelers in the breathtaking landscapes of Serra da Estrela, Portugal’s highest mountain range. The hotel is located near the town of Manteigas, approximately a 2.5-hour drive from Porto and 3.5 hours from Lisbon, making it easily accessible by car. For those arriving by air, the closest major airports are Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) and Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon (LIS), both offering rental car services for a picturesque drive through winding mountain roads. The journey itself is part of the experience, with stunning views of glacial valleys, rugged cliffs, and traditional villages along the way.

Please see more info here: https://casadesaolourenco.pt/en/location-and-contacts/

WILD INITIATIVES

Casa de São Lourenço is deeply committed to regenerative practices, ensuring that its presence enhances the natural and cultural landscape of Serra da Estrela. A key part of this commitment is the revival of traditional wool production through its connection with the Burel Factory. This historic mill preserves century-old techniques, using locally sourced wool to create durable burel fabric while supporting the region’s shepherding heritage. By incorporating burel into the hotel’s design—from furnishings to textiles—Casa de São Lourenço not only sustains a disappearing craft but also promotes a circular economy that benefits local artisans and shepherds.

Beyond wool production, the hotel emphasizes sustainability in architecture and operations. Originally built in 1940, the structure was thoughtfully restored to blend with its mountainous surroundings, using natural materials like granite and wood. Large panoramic windows maximize natural light and warmth, reducing energy consumption while offering breathtaking views of the landscape. The hotel also embraces responsible resource management, employing eco-friendly water conservation techniques, low-energy lighting, and locally sourced ingredients in its restaurant, ensuring that each element of the guest experience aligns with sustainable values.

Casa de São Lourenço also plays a vital role in preserving the region’s cultural and environmental heritage. It actively supports the traditional sheep-shearing and transhumance practices, where shepherds lead their flocks to higher pastures in summer, a ritual that has shaped the identity of Serra da Estrela for centuries. Guests can take part in these immersive experiences, deepening their connection to the land and its people. By promoting local traditions, ethical craftsmanship, and environmentally responsible hospitality, Casa de São Lourenço sets a benchmark for regenerative travel, ensuring that its impact is one of renewal and preservation rather than consumption.

*Photos property of Casa de São Lourenço

Rooms start at 285€