Marvellous Manteigas

We were met by Maria who showed us to our tiny cottage by a shallow stream, full of wild flowers, mint, oregano, AND rubbish!  Three storeys high with one room one each level which you reached by treacherous stairs just wide enough for us to pass.  A tiny kitchen and bathroom led off to the side. What was remarkable about the cottage was the windows.... seven of them, also tiny and set at different angles giving views of the mountains, river and village.

Mateigas is set in the middle of a network of walking trails.  The weather was still cool and so we set off out of the town up the mountain tracks, passing deserted farms where  cherries and blueberries weighed down the branches of the trees.   We couldn't resist and filled our hats!

As we dropped down the hill we came across a very swish hotel... which had stunning views along the valley.  Unusual name we thought but it wasn't until later that we learnt about its history.

This was the original location of the Burel factory, now transformed into an ultra modern hotel which used Burel  and the old machinery for decoration.

I must admit we rather liked the older more rustic accommodation!