The hat that decorates the reception introduces the topic; Solar da Castanha was once the residence of the forest ranger of Manteigas. With roughly a century and disabled since the 70s, the house was recovered by architect Pedro Brígida – the same one who designed the Casa das Penhas Douradas – and in 2019 began to receive guests in the heart of the Serra da Estrela.
“In the renewal, the idea was to take the forest into the house,” summarizes Pedro Lucas, a forestry engineer who acquired the property as soon as he learned it was for sale at a public price.
If on the outside only chestnut trees are seen, inside the walls were coated with birch, and the same wood was used for furniture, designed by the same architect and custom-made.
There are three bedrooms, named after the forest animals and with a capacity of three to four people. All have private bathrooms and access to the common living room, where breakfast is served and on cold days the fireplace is lighten up.
It is easy to find books related to nature and the region, without forgetting sustainability. “We are a five-minute drive from Poço do Inferno and on the fantastic walking route,” recalls Pedro Lucas. On the return of their hike, guests can rest in the outdoor area with wooden chairs and tables – “it is more than a thousand square meters” – and continue to admire the landscape, made only of forest and mountains.