Paco de Lanheses

What a place to stay! The opposite end of the spectrum from the standard continental holiday apartment. It is the real Portuguese 'home' experience, although this home is a manor house that has been in the same family for hundreds of years as can be seen in the décor, photos and artefacts in the gracious living rooms and bedrooms and gardens. Yet all the comforts are in place - kitchen, en suites, balcony for outside dining, swimming pool, WiFi. And, very importantly, our host (the owner of the mansion) was on hand to advise us about the area and best places to see, restaurants, museums and local events etc. For us this included booking up a magical evening horse ride along the beach in a local town. We also swam in rivers, visited the national park, surfed in the Atlantic and experienced the local village summer festival activities. We loved the peaceful atmosphere and the rural beauty of the area, seemingly off the major tourist tracks where one could escape to traditional rural villages and order a coffee in bars and cafes used by locals. A wonderful week - we hope to be back!

Absolutely fantastic place to stay for a couple of days or longer.... An old Portuguese manor, in the hands of the same family for over 600 years. Rooms fully furnished with antique furniture, a perfect historical environment. Lovely well kept garden with a stunning view. If you travel to the North it's simply a must to stay there. Romantic, quiet place near one of the most beautiful villages in Portugal, Ponte de Lima.

Step back in time as you come down the long driveway through the woods into the walled courtyard of the Lanheses Palace. More faded glory than a chic boutique hotel, this superbly atmospheric16th century mansion house, reminiscent of another era, is full of antiques and oozes history. The owner is lovely, speaking Portuguese, French and English. She is very knowledgeable of the house and of the area, and is happy to spend time talking about them with her guests. We had booked a family room which consisted of 2 good sized communicating bedrooms, sharing a bathroom, and in our own wing of the house. The beds are not the most comfortable, but that wasn't a really big problem. The bathroom is antiquated, although everything works; it's in fitting with the rest of the house! Beautiful blue handmade Portuguese tiles adorn the walls. The price of 130 euros a night included a continental breakfast (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, orange juice - freshly squeezed from the trees in the garden - yoghurt, cheese, ham and fresh breadrolls, croissants or pastries). Breakfast is served by Rosa, the kindly housekeeper, either in the huge guest lounge, or on a verandah looking out over the garden and hills in the distance. Our children enjoyed climbing the trees and playing in the pool, while we enjoyed the tranquility of the peaceful surroundings and chatting with the owner and her family who couldn't have been more welcoming. Although one should use the time at Paço Lanheses to disconnect and unwind from the stresses of everyday life, there is WIFI throughout the house for those who just cannot manage without it. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would recommend this B&B to others. The location was good as well, right in between Viana do Costela and Ponte de Lima.