Lousã

From the castle we can see all of them: almost in front, jumping over the mountain, there they are, the chapels in honour of the Senhora dos Aflitos, S. João Baptista, Senhor da Agonia and right on top the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade.This could be the beginning of one of the many routes that could lead you, on foot or by jeep, on the discovery of the Lousã Mountain. From the top of the Trevim, that is 1202 metres high, the rounded summits of the schistose mountains and the cliffs in-between make the scenery majestic. Discovering the Mountain is a great adventure: in the humid slopes there are traces of evergreen forest and, on the way up, we find the holly and the laurel.

The oaks and the majestic chestnut trees lead us to imagine the flight of the Jays.

The cuckoos make themselves heard in spring and, on the walls of piled stones margining the trails, a wren may be hiding.The little villages built out of schist are a wonder of knowledge! Here people used to make the best use of everything: the lintel of the doors and windows were made of oak, the large flat stones are on the eaves, on top of the roof tiles and on the thresholds. From the chestnut plantations they got the chestnuts and the chestnut soup is still famous today. The goats would be eaten only when they were old. They would then be braised in red wine to make them soft and give taste to the “chanfana”.

From the small vegetable gardens they got the fresh turnip sprouts that, mixed with “broa” (maize bread) and olive oil, made delicious “migas”. The heather and lots of bees result in the making of an excellent quality honey.

The great tastes of the mountain still continue to be on the tables of Lousã. But Lousã is not only the mountain, it has many other interests: the manor houses dating from the 18^th and 19^th centuries mark many streets. The Misericórdia and its chapel, the Parish Church, and the beautiful baroque style building of the town council contribute to this walk through history until the mediaeval bridge of Foz de Arouce. Many French soldiers must have crossed it during the French invasions.