Retiro das Andorinhas (Swallows’ Retreat) is the perfect spot to spend your holidays in one the most iconic thermal spa towns in Portugal - Vila do Gerês.
Our apartment is in the heart of the town, just a few metres from the famous Termas do Gerês and Spa. The town also contains a traditional marketplace, two mini-markets, bakery, butcher, artisan boutiques, post office, two ATMs, cafés, and restaurants serving fine local cuisine. The town also hosts a traditional outdoor market every Friday.
Our Retreat contains everything you might need for a relaxing stay, with all modern amenities and a fully-equipped kitchen. It also benefits from a secure, private parking space in a touristic town that has limited public parking. Although situated in the centre of the town, the apartment offers a fine mountain view of the Serra do Gerês, especially from the private balcony, and of the Gerês river, which runs only a few steps away from the apartment block.
We want you to feel at home when staying in our house – this is our motivation and we wish you an excellent holiday in our calm and happy place, inspired by the swallows, a traditional Portuguese symbol of family, love, faithfulness and loyalty, returning to their nests without fail each year after many travels and adventures. When you reserve with us, please let us know if you have any special requests, or if you are traveling with a young family. We have a highchair, travel cot, children’s dinnerware, books, games, and a selection of toys that will certainly provide some creative opportunities!
Less than 500m away is the Parque das Termas (thermal spring park) where you can enjoy such activities as rowboat trips on the lake, a children’s playground, table tennis, picnic places, fitness circuits, treetop rope courses, archery, and many others.
The town of Gerês (referred to variably as Vila, Termas, or Caldas, do Gerês) is nestled deep in the valley of the river and mountain of the same name, within the Peneda-Gerês National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. It is the only National Park in Portugal and possesses a rich historical and cultural heritage, including ancient megalithic structures and tombs, Roman remains, medieval castles, traditional stone granaries, ancient communal ovens, watermills, irrigation channels, terraced hillsides, “brandas” (villages where the population would live in the summer) and “inverneiras” (where the people would spend the harsh winters), thermal springs, and a host of folk traditions.
While Vila do Gerês is in the heart of the tranquillity and isolation of the National Park, it is a quick drive to the town of Vieira do Minho for larger supermarkets and shops, less than an hour from the city of Braga, and 90 minutes from Porto and its international airport.
