About Casa Alta

Street Front

Valley Front

Take a journey back in time… Walk the narrow, cobblestone streets past whitewashed houses, and discover Casa Alta Royal Lodge cresting the ramparts of the ruined medieval castle. Sweeping views of the valley below, and the scent of roses and lavender above, both surprise and delight. Surrounded by the king's forest, it was here that timber came to build the ships that discovered the New World.

This is the historic walled village of the Castle of Ourém, known as the jewel in the Portuguese crown. Located in the heart of Portugal, just 12 minutes by free, private transport from the famous Shrine of Fatima; little of the modern world intrudes here.  Queen Teresa remodelled it in 1180, and Queen Saint Elizabeth added a small hermitage for royal retreats shortly after.

In the seventeenth century it served as a lodge for the Portuguese royal family, members of the royal court, and visiting nobles of Europe. Catherine of Braganza spent her last night in Portugal at the lodge before embarking for England to become the Queen Consort to Charles II. After the fall of the monarchy in the twentieth century, the lodge passed through several hands, expanding the small manor and bringing modern improvements. Its views of the former royal palace and its unique watchtowers are an ever-present reminder of its historic past. Completely renovated in 2003, Fr. Mariani installed all new plumbing, electricity, and insulation, five bathrooms, five wood-burning fireplaces, a new kitchen, all new floors, windows and a new roof.

The house presently has two double bed rooms.  The suite has a seating area around a fireplace with a sofa bed for extra accommodation. The garden terrace was expanded to include a dramatic reflection pool terrace (you can jump into!) with panoramic views of the Ourém Valley and mountains beyond.