Luso & Buçaco

Situated to the north of Coimbra, Luso is famous for its mineral and thermal waters, which have their source below the chapel of São João. The mineral water is bottled for sale and thousands of litres are drunk daily throughout Portugal, but the water also flows freely from the town’s fountains and springs.

Luso is one of Portugal’s most important spa towns and its hot-water springs became popular in the 18th century, although the town dates back to the 11th century. Today a variety of treatments are available and the waters are said to be particularly beneficial for arterial disease and rheumatism.

Luso is situated in the Serra do Buçaco, a wooden ridge about 15km long running north from Penacova. Nearby are Buçaco Palace and the national forest. Carmelite monks have inhabited and cultivated this area since the 6th century; a monastery was founded in the 17th century and a wall built around a section of the forest on the southern slope of the ridge, to ensure their seclusion and solitude for spiritual contemplation. The monks planted a huge variety of trees and exotic plants – over 500 species are present to this day, and some of the trees date back to the 1600s. The forest is open to the public and offers many beautiful walks amongst the trees, following the “stations of the cross” and little hermitages, to the “Cruz Alta” at the top of the hill.

The palace was built in 1900 in the impressive and ornate Manueline style. The former royal summer residence and hunting lodge is now the Buçaco Palace Hotel and offers luxury accommodation and a first class restaurant.

The area is also famous for being the scene of the Battle of Buçaco where Wellington, with his army of British and Portuguse soldiers, won victory over 66,000 troops during the unsuccessful French invasion of Portugal in 1810.

Buçaco Military Museum
Museu Militar do Buçaco, Buçaco 3050-361, Portugal
Phone: 231939310 / Fax: 231939310
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Porto is approximately 1.5 hours drive and Lisbon 2 hours. Silver Coast (Costa da Prata) beaches approximately 35 minutes, and the Algarve (Faro airport) approx. 5hrs.

• Property for Sale in Luso / Buçaco