Our vision is that all who visit Quinta da Luz leave with an inner peace and calm.
Our mission is to ensure all who come for a retreat, volunteer or quest depart feeling a sense of connection with themselves, Nature and Quinta da Luz.
We created our beautiful home from a ruin with the large windows of its forester’s fire tower. It is idyllic for creative and artistic people seeking tranquillity, rehabilitation and inspiration. There is also the area and its Nature to explore.
The Quinta acts as a retreat centre for those seeking to recharge their batteries, to escape from city life. Many are also seeking support to take the next step on their journey through life.
Looking for Property?
Many of our visitors have come seeking to learn more about the Beira Alta and perhaps to find a property for themselves. Our recommendation is first complete some searches on a site such as Pure Portugal, make a list of what you are seeking (ideally separately if a couple) then arrange some visits to gain an idea of what is available. Very often this will lead to a compromise compared to your ideal!
There are also various Facebook groups you can join to gain an impression of life in Portugal. Though beware, the Algarve is very very different from our life here!
Need Calm to be Creative?
It was whilst enjoying the peace and calm that Gregory finished his first book The Seven Secrets to Living in Harmony – A Guide to freeing You to Create Your Life. Published by Divine Time Books it is available from anywhere in the world by clicking on Amazon. Or purchase one and Gregory will sign it during your visit.
More on Gregory´s story and the major transitions in his life can be found in his chapter “CEO to Shaman” in the collaborative book Transforming Your Life II.
In November 2017 The Seven Secrets to Living in Harmony was nominated for the 2017 Readers Choice Awards!
In addition to Amazon, the Seven Secrets in pdf format is available from Gregory´s Creating Harmony site if you wish to read a copy.
The Space You Can Enjoy
We welcome guests on arrival. We take pleasure in settling them into our home and showing them around Quinta da Luz.
There is a Garden room used for therapy work, yoga, meditation and events, or perhaps even your sketching and photography. It is a converted agricultural building heated by a wood burner. Our visitors are welcome to use this space.
There are maps and local information on places to visit. Every Wednesday there is an open market in Seia, about 20 minutes away, which also hosts many social and cultural activities.
Quinta da Luz is vegetarian and non-smoking. You are welcome to bring your own wine to enjoy an evening drink on our terrace, at the stone picnic table, under the pergola or on the other 16 seats around the garden.
Therapies to Help You
Various therapies such as craniosacral, energy work, shamanic ceremonies and massage, including shiatsu are available to book to help clear away any debris. There is also a house guitar should you feel the need to strum or drum.
We offer half board, or you can use our kitchen for a charge to cover costs. It is also possible to purchase fruit, nuts and vegetables from our horta. The chefs who have visited have all commented on the fullness of flavour compared to what they are used to – must be the energy!
Caroline enjoys turning the produce into preserves. Her homemade marmalade, jams and olive tapenade complement the home-baked bread, vegan cakes and other such delights.
We offer a vegan choice as well as allergy-free meals.
Please let us know of any dietary requirements when booking and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Our purpose is to ensure you enjoy your visit, so please let us how we may help you.
Quinta da Luz Rooms To Choose From
Oliveira Room
En-suite room with a king-size double bed (160 x 200mm) made of local chestnut. The large window faces East looking out on our neighbour´s vines and olive trees. In addition to plenty of cupboard and drawer space there is a small table and chair, also made from chestnut.
The luxury bathroom has a walk-in shower, wash basin, bidet and WC – where you can sit and enjoy the mountain views.
Estrela Room
Room with two single beds (90 x 200mm) made of local chestnut and a shared bathroom. The room faces East and the large window looks out over our neighbour´s vines and olive trees. In addition to plenty of cupboard and drawer space, there is a small table and chair, also made from chestnut.
Zen Room
Room with one single bed (90 x 200mm) made of local chestnut and a shared bathroom.
The large window faces East looking out on our neighbour´s vines and olive trees. In addition to plenty of cupboard and drawer space there is a small table and chair, also made from chestnut.
Lajes Room
En-suite room with a king-size double bed (160 x 200mm) made of local chestnut. The window faces East looking out on vineyards and olive trees between the Quinta and Lajes. In addition to plenty of cupboard and drawer space, there is a small table and chair, also made from chestnut.
The luxury bathroom has a walk-in shower, wash basin, bidet and WC.
Serra Room
En-suite room with a king-size double bed (160 x 200mm) made of local chestnut. The window faces South looking out on the Serra and the garden. In addition to plenty of cupboard and drawer space, there is a small table and chair, also made from chestnut.
The luxury bathroom has a walk-in shower, wash basin, bidet and WC.
We also have a travel cot should you be visiting with your little one. It is designed for a child up to 1.2mt long and weighing 15kg.
We have a Quinta cat who spends most of her time outside especially in summer – the bedrooms are off limits to her! If you have cat allergies please mention them to us. We request that no dogs are invited.
Quinta da Luz Quest Access
You will be able to access the living room where we enjoy breakfast when not taken outside. In the tower, we have our library where guests may sit and read books during their stay. There is a seating area, used more in winter when its wood burner is alight, leading to three of the guest bedrooms, dining room and kitchen!
The granite walls keep an equable temperature throughout the year, so allowing all to just sit and enjoy the ever-changing Serra da Estrela. Our terrace is designed to be in the sun in the winter and shaded during the other seasons.
Whether you wish to be inside or sit on the terrace listening to the evening noises of the crickets and frogs, watching the twinkling lights of Seia, or find one of the 17 benches in the garden where you can just be at peace with Nature. All are available to you at Quinta da Luz.
Interaction with Quinta da Luz Guests
We will be on-site during your stay, to help guide you around the hectare (2.5 acres) of Quinta da Luz and point out local sites and places of interest. You could even join us on one of the local walks.
We operate a very non-intrusive and empathetic home, respecting the privacy of all visitors.
You Can Find Quinta da Luz Here
Location – Quinta da Luz is situated in Beira Alta, less than 20 minutes from Seia which sits almost halfway up the Serra da Estrela. Seia is located just off the N17 which runs from Coimbra to Celorico da Beira and Guarda. The Quinta is on the edge of the village of Lajes, accessible by turning off the N231 between Nelas and Seia and from the N17 via Rio Torto.
The Quinta is 500 metres down a rural track and is car and tractor accessible. More links and directions can be obtained here.
To make a booking please fill in the Accommodation Booking Form and submit it.
Volunteering
Depending on demand, there is space to accommodate some volunteers in the house or in their own tents in the warmer months. Several volunteers have stayed after completing the Caminho do Santiago, using the Quinta as a place of adjustment before returning to their lives.
Volunteers who feel a resonance with the Quinta’s overall vision and who can stay for at least one week to assist with the garden and other duties are welcome. Anyone with the skills to help on the specific projects outlined in the Volunteering section would be especially welcome.
There is always gardening, in the dry months, our main activity is harvesting and watering the plants, trees and bushes.
Central Portugal
This part of Central Portugal is a blessing, not only because the landscape is beautiful, the local people are welcoming as are the other outsiders or ‘estranjeiros’ in this part of the Beira Alta. The area has many river beaches – ‘playa fluviais’, to enjoy in the summer – warmer than the Atlantic and no waves! The one at Vale do Rossim on the Serra also has canoes etc. to hire. There are stunning walks through the spectacular terrain of its large granite rocks.
In the area can be found many dolmens, burial stones and other artefacts from the Celtic period as well as their conquering Romans. There is an old Roman road running along the Serra and south of Coimbra {Aeminium} is to be found the largest Roman excavation in Portugal at Conímbriga.
The area´s Celtic traditions go back before Roman times, though there is debate as to when it became known as Lusitania. It is said to be the home of the tallest standing stones in Europe at Evora and the Celtic influence is still strong with many of the annual festas being linked to events from the Celtic calendar.
For example on 1st May to celebrate the arrival of summer, sprigs of the yellow broom are often to be seen fixed to car bonnets and some also on the doorways of houses. These are symbols to attract prosperity for the coming year – 30th April is the date of the Celtic festival of Beltane. In Celtic tradition, the two greatest festivals of the solar year are Beltane and Samhain (31st October), celebrations of rebirth and death, respectively.
Places to Visit
In addition to the wonderful ever-changing views of Serra da Estrela from the Quinta, there are many other places of interest in the Beira Alta. About 30 minutes away is Linhares castle built on top of a Lusitanian hill fort. Expanded by the Moors, later its garrison sallied forth to defeat the Spanish invaders besieging Celerico. Paragliding can also be experienced here – it is a regular host for their World Cup.
On the way to or from Coimbra, there is the charismatic forest of Mata Nacional do Bussaço. Walk around enjoying its 700 exotic and local tree species, garden features and its palace. Built for the last King of Portugal, it is a must to view its architecture as well as the internal decor, perhaps whilst taking afternoon tea!
Just over an hour away is Coimbra. Its University is older than Oxford and Cambridge and many of its buildings, including the Library, are open to visitors. The Botanical Gardens contains many trees and plants brought back by the Portuguese Navigators as they sailed and traded East, South and West from Europe.
For those looking to experience some of the activities in the area visit: www.rockandriver.com.pt. If whilst staying at the Quinta and seeking just to enjoy the local peace, there are plenty of walks through the surrounding forest and land either from the front gate or the gates on the bottom terrace onto the Rua Chão da Vinha – the name is far more exotic than the track!
Some Quinta da Luz History, if Interested?
In 2009 Caroline and Gregory visited Portugal to view the first property they had identified to possibly make their home. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon they met the vendor at a petrol station outside Seia and came to inspect this property. After agreeing to purchase it, Gregory was standing inside talking to the vendor when Caroline came along to say ‘come outside and look at this’ – a rainbow over part of the Serra da Estrela in the cloudless bright blue May sky.
The land had originally been used as forest and during that period a tower was built to provide a platform to watch for fires. When the land was re-designated for agricultural use the watch tower plus a hectare of land had been purchased. In the period after that a single-storey house was built using the tower as one corner. The land was also terraced and vines, olives, hazelnut and other trees were planted.
However, the house was never completed as the owner had built it for his daughter, Sara, and she preferred to stay in Lisbon. So Casa Sara as it came to be known locally, was abandoned and became overgrown and a place for local children to play.
Caroline and Gregory arrived in June 2010 to start their new life in Portugal
The ruin was rebuilt and re-modelled without altering the original footprint and granite walls. The tower contains stairs as well as a library and sitting space on both floors.
Within almost one hectare of land, the garden and ‘horta’ (vegetable garden) areas have been established on each of the seven terraces. In the garden, a stone circle has been created with the granite posts used originally to support vines. A series of seven linked ponds have been created to represent the flow through the seven prime chakras.
You can walk over the three Japanese-style wooden bridges, lose yourself in our labyrinth or simply sit on one of the 17 benches to enjoy the ever-changing interchange with Nature. There is also a medicine wheel.
Many fruit, nut and ornamental trees have been planted as well as different varieties of fruit bushes to enable the land to become its productive self once more. Adding to the over 80 olive trees, oaks and pine trees provide well-needed shade during the summer months.
A Zen garden has been laid out in front of the Garden Room, so adding to the peace and calm presence. The labyrinth, medicine wheel and stone circle are to help in your exploration of self.
There is a pergola, built by a visiting volunteer, which provides a wonderful spot to sit or carry out your daily practice, accompanied by the breeze and birdsong, and perhaps even the sound of the passing goat and sheep bells!
Quinta da Luz Was Created With Love
We view our role as caretakers to re-create a sense of peace, abundance, joy, love, balance and harmony. The intent is that those who visit will have experiences and shifts in their perspective and understanding. It will positively impact their lives, so when they leave they spread this word wherever they may be.
August 2010 brought one of Portugal’s ubiquitous forest fires within 500 metres of the house Caroline and Gregory were renting. After watching it pass by, for the next few days, the horizon glowed and smoke billowed as the wind blew it eastward. A week later they visited the Quinta and turning onto the road found pine and olive trees smouldering. As they came to the house they found a very effective ground clearing had been completed!
For the first time, they were able to view the seven terraces as well as its two wells and water tank. Though many of the olive trees were badly burnt and other trees were burnt to a cinder, the house itself was untouched.
Work started on 26th December 2010 to remove the roof of the existing building. At the end of June 2011, Caroline and Gregory moved into a friend’s caravan sited on one of the terraces and into the house itself at the end of August 2011.
Since then work has gone into creating the garden, building the seven ponds and the vegetable growing area and planting many trees. Each year the Quinta evolves as they adapt to the climate and learn more about how to connect with Nature.
As to our Evolution…
It is up to each person to find their truth and uphold it. To help achieve this inner peace requires balance, an essential part of which is allowing each of us to embrace a closer connection with Nature.
Whilst each of us is responsible for our own choices, the aim is to co-create at the Quinta the environment to inspire and enable all to do this. Whether visiting, volunteering or just enjoying the many different and varied aspects it offers.
For those who seek further understanding and help on the journey we are all on, the Quinta also hosts events, ceremonies, retreats and workshops. Interested in participating in the learning that is available, please go to Fun and Learning. Or, if you wish to hold an event at the Quinta, please contact Caroline.