Walking & Sightseeing

There are many beautiful walks around Figueira and many castles and historic houses reflecting Portugal's long monarchic history to explore. Nearby to Figueira are areas of rugged coastal beauty, forests, rivers and valleys as well as pretty villages and vineyards and over 100 km of beautiful beaches.

The accommodation is less than 10 minutes walk from the countryside thus making it very easy to set off without any transport and perhaps follow the River Mondego to reach Montemor O Velho (see below) or just head into the interior following our detailed maps showing paths which can all be used so long as there no locked gates or obstructions.

If you wish to venture further afield. the local (and very cheap) train between Figueira and Coimbra stops at many places and you could take this for a few stops inland to begin your walk somewhere other than Figueira and likewise take the train back from some other town further along the line.

Slightly further inland are the hills beyond Coimbra and the Spa's, Palaces and Castles that are all easily reachable by bus or train and offer great options for day walking trips and if you want include a wine-tasting visit to a Quinta (winery) we will happily arrange this for you.

Castle at Montemor-o-Velho The route from Figueira to Coimbra along the RIver Mondego is a popular route and 15km from Figueira is the pretty town of Montemor-o-Velho which has a stunning castle with castellated walls that runs down the hillside and fragments of Roman stonework in its keep. Being the highest point in a relatively flat area you can get some good views of the countryside from the castle
Conimbriga Roman Settlement Conímbriga is one of the largest Roman settlements in Portugal, and is classified as a National Monument. Conímbriga lies 16 km south of Coimbra and less than 45 minutes from Figueira . The site also has a museum that displays objects found by archaeologists during their excavations, including coins and tools. Although Conímbriga was not the largest Roman city in Portugal, it is the best preserved. The city walls are largely intact, and the mosaic floors and foundations of many houses and public buildings remain. In the baths, you can view the network of stone heating ducts beneath the now-missing floors. Archaeologists estimate that only 10 percent of the city has been excavated until the early 2000s. Like many archaeological sites, Conímbriga was built in layers. Some of the earliest layers date back to the first Iron Age in the 9th Century B.C. The Romans arrived in 139 BC, Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus was the general who lead the Roman legions in the conquest of western Iberia after the death of Viriathus, conquering the Celtic inhabitants and establishing a city that grew, flourished, and then fell victim to barbarian invasions until Conimbriga's residents fled to nearby Aeminium (now the city of Coimbra) in 468.
Luso & Curia Spas & Busaco Palace Located north of Coimbra, and perhaps 45 minutes from Figueira, are two of Portugal's most famous Spa towns. Luso is an attractively situated resort whose famous bottle mineral water gushes freely from its fountains. In the 11th century it was just a village linked to a monastery at Vacariça, long before its hot-water springs became popular in the 18th century. The spa centre specialises in the treatment of arteriosclerosis, an arterial disease occurring mostly in the elderly, characterised by inelasticity and thickening of the vessel walls, with lessened blood flow. The thermal waters, which originate from a spring below the chapel of São João, are said to be of additional value to sufferers of renal problems and rheumatism. Luso lies on the fringe of the Serra do Buçaco, a wooded ridge about 15 km long running northwards from Penacova on the River Mondego. Protected as a national park, the forest is noted for its huge cypress trees of Mexican origin, which stand in a walled enclosure several kilometres in diameter, on the southern slopes of the mountain. The area is also famous for being the scene of Wellington’s victory over the French under Massena in 1810.
Coimbra The beautiful medieval city of Coimbra, 40 km inland from Figueira by motorway and via frequent rail connection is well worth a visit to explore its modern and traditional shops and restaurants is a venerable university town, known for its intellectual climate and artistic refinement. There is a strong artistic and cultural vibe, not least being in the many bars and restaurants where Fado is played and sung.