Lousã
Lousã is a town of 18,000 people (2011) in Central Portugal.
Understand
Lousã (loh-ZUHN, /ɫo.ˈzɐ̃/)
Visitor information
- Municipio da Lousã—Turismo, Rua Dr. João Santos, ☏ +351 239 990 370, geral@cm-lousa.pt.
Get in
By train
Lousã is on the line to Serpins from Coimbra Parque station. There are two stations. Lousã A is reached first and is best for walking up into the Serra de Lousã and for seeing the small castle on the edge of the Serra. Lousã station is more central for the town.
By car
Lousã is connected by EN342 to Miranda do Corvo, Vilarinho and Góis, by EN17 (Estrada da Beira) to Coimbra and Vila Nova de Poiares, by EN236 to Castanheira de Pera, and to Ponte Velha in the form of a variant where it enters the EN17. The EN2 enters the municipality for a few hundred metres at one end of it and that there are other municipal roads between the villages.
Get around
See
The walk to the castle and the tiny chapel near it is delightful
- 🌍 Castle of Lousã (Castelo de Lousã). The 11th-century castle dates from the pacification of the territory of Lousã by Sisnando Davides, and was used a summer retreat by the court of Queen Mafalda.
- Old Municipal Hall (Antigos Paços do Concelho). A three-storey building that once housed the municipal authority, this stoic rectangular building was constructed in the 17th century, but abandoned in favour of the Palace of the Viscountess of Espinhal's former residence.
- 🌍 Municipal Hall of Lousã (Câmara Municipal da Lousã, Paços do Concelho da Lousã), Rua Dr. João Santos 2, ☏ +351 239 990 370. The municipal hall of Lousã, although designed in the Baroque-style is actually of recent construction, dating to the 1930s, by João Moura Coutinho de Almeida Eça, of Braga.
- 🌍 Chapel of the Misericórdia (Capela da Misericórdia), Rua Viscondessa do Espinhal, ☏ +351 239 993 372. The 16th century chapel includes a single longitudinal nave, decorated in Baroque era alterpeices and retables.
- 🌍 Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Piedade, Ermidas da Nossa Senhora da Piedade), Pte. da Central Ermida, ☏ +351 239 993 372. Vernacular religious architecture in the Revivalist era, the Marian sanctuary is actually a group of four chapels that were raised during different epochs, near the castle of Lousã, beginning with the 15th-century chapel constructed from a petition of alms to King Afonso V of Portugal.
Do
Enjoy the natural wonder of the Serra da Lousã mountains and natural pools in the hills.
Buy
The village of Lousã is characterized by its mixture of modernity with tradition; artisanal works are: the manufacture of baskets, works in shale, jewellery, work in wood and paper, ceramics and sewing.
In addition to artisanal works, Lousã is also known for its wines, for its liqueurs (the best known at Portuguese level is Licor Beirão), for its honey DOP da Serra, for its sweets, and its plants.
Eat
- 🌍 Villa Lausana, ☏ +351 935 202 767, geral.villalausana@gmail.com. M Tu Th–Sa 12:30–15:00 & 19:30–22:30, closed Su W. Portuguese cuisine, including chanfana (goat stew), migas de broa e bacalhau (smashed cornbread and cod), and tibornada de bacalhau (Beira-style cod). €10-30.
Sleep
- 🌍 Palácio da Lousã, Rua Viscondessa do Espinhal, ☏ +351 239 990 800, reservations@palaciodalousa.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. The country's first boutique hotel. €66-134.