Castanheira de Pera

In Castanheira de Pera, in the Lousã Mountain, the Chapel of Santo António da Neve makes the climb worthwhile. Here it is not only the grandeur of the scenery that impresses us. It is also the history that makes us go back in time to the year 1787, the year in which Julio Pereira de Castro, the Neveiro-Mor (the chief ice seller) from the house of his Majesty commissioned the building of the Chapel of Santo António da Neve. In fact, a few steps away from the chapel there are the ancient royal snow wells. But Castanheira de Pera is not only Santo António da Neve and the Lousã Mountain.You must also go to Coentral and discover the banks of the Quelhas stream or simply enjoy the artificial waves of the Rocas Fluvial Beach. Then, there are also tracks for four-wheel drives. They call it the "Romaria to Santo Antonio da Neve", in honour of the pilgrimage that the people of Lousã used to make.And while admiring the valley of the Pera stream, near Coentral, it is impossible not to remember the importance that the wool industry had in the history of Castanheira de Pera. We know that there were eleven wool factories between 1864 and 1879.

Of this golden era that marked the development of Castanheira de Pera in the 19th century, only the factory of Safrujo remains. They produce the traditional red and green "campino hoods".

In Castanheira de Pera you can enjoy the pleasure of discovering the streets, the Parish Church with 17th century architecture, the flowerbeds. When the summer heat increases, there is the Fluvial Beach of Poço da Corga. To our delight there is the fabulous kid rice. Then, there is also the turnip sprouts and the home baked bread. However, when we talk about sweets, the rice pudding is the best.