Tiny schist ruins hidden in a green forest valley.
Casal Novo, Aldeias do Xisto, Coimbra (Central Portugal)
Casal Novo, Aldeias do Xisto (Coimbra, Central Portugal)
A nearly forgotten hamlet in the Lousã mountains.
Quick Facts
Location
Lousã mountains, Coimbra District
Structures
Schist ruins and small houses
Environment
Distinctive
Part of Portugal’s Schist Village network
Forests, hills, rivers nearby
Snapshot
Status:
Semi-abandoned. The largest resident population in this village was recorded in 1885: 65 inhabitants. Since 1981, the village has not recorded a single permanent inhabitant. Since then, almost all the houses have become second homes.
Population:
<20 (mostly seasonal)
Access
Mountain track from Lousã. About 2hours drive from both Lisbon and Porto airports.
Sources
Key Features:
Schist stone houses, waterfall, forest setting, silence and isolation.
Potential:
Casal Novo offers a blank canvas for eco-renovation and small-scale cooperative projects, tied into the broader Aldeias do Xisto network.
Vision:
A forest retreat village where schist traditions meet ecological innovation and cooperative living.
