Wednesday, 30 November 2011 00:00
Dutchman Jack Brouns travelled Croatia, nearly the length and breadth of it, in search of a place to open a tourism business. After passing through Spain, he had yet to find the right place. Due to "emotional issues" he travelled to Portugal, headed for the center on Portugal’s interior, searching for his "dream place." "I arrived on a bad weather day, I was tired, and all of a sudden I saw this house for sale. I thought: this is it." The
Quinta da Palmeira, formerly belonging to actor Philip Sinde’s family and which includes a mansion of 1890, was recovered for three years and converted into a four-star rental accommodation opened a few months ago. The original design was kept.Outside, near the pool, the walls of stone and slate are a reminder of the house’s proximity to the village of Piódão (located 21 kilometers away). The exterior, surrounded by greenery, is indeed one of its greatest business cards. The small village of Cerdeira, where this project is located, is 6 kilometers from Benfeita, another village of the Arganil shale area. And in the courtyard, stands a 160 year-old palm tree (palmeira in Portuguese) after which the estate was named.The 8 rooms (6 doubles, one single, and one 4-person apartment with a kitchen and living room) stand out due to their dimensions (35 to 40 m
2) and a decoration of different colours and concepts.“Some have a more classic feel to them, others a romantic one, others a rustic touch,” says Jack Brouns. The first floor, which used to house a wine cellar, is now highlighted by violets.You can relax in the living room or dine in the restaurant lead by swiss chef Mirjam which offers traditional Portuguese meals (3-course menu for €25). One of the breakfast options, for example, uses the estate’s orchard fruit (oranges, lemons, plums, pears, and apples).With a view of the Açor ridge, near the Serra da Estrela, this new tourism project is close to natural beauties such as the Mata da Margaraça (Margaraça forrest) and the Fraga da Pena waterfalls. However, Jack Brouns’ project is far from completed. In the coming year, he intends to extend the accommodation unit to an old olive oil mill across the street.
WHAT TO DO
Apart from walking and mountain bike trails, the estate promotes:
- Culinary workshops (lead by chef Mirjam) 30 Oct – 4 Nov, 6-11 Nov, 20-25 Nov
- Olive picking and culinary workshop 13-18 Nov
QUINTA DA PALMEIRA
Rua Principal, 36, Cerdeira, Arganil
Tel # 235 728 125
€100 to €110 (rooms)
€120 to €140 (apartments)
www.quinta-da-palmeira.com
www.qportugal.com
Portugal National Tourist Office