Peace, privacy, and nature in a rural house near Portugal

Description

Just a 5-min drive from the charming village of Valencia de Alcántara and only a couple of kilometers from the Portuguese border, our ​25-hectare family estate offers a truly special and private retreat in the heart of nature. This is more than just a house. It's part of our family history. Our great-grandparents once lived here, and we've spent every summer here with our family for generations. It has also been used for several years as a rural tourism house and for yoga, meditation, and retreat courses. The atmosphere is peaceful, the surroundings are quiet, and the sense of seclusion is rare and precious. The house, originally built over 150 years ago and recently restored with great care, retains much of the character of a traditional Extremaduran farmhouse: thick stone walls, original wooden ceilings, stone staircase, built-in niches, and many other details we’ve lovingly preserved. In summer, the house stays naturally cool, especially on the ground floor. The upper floor is slightly warmer but has hot air heating for winter, while the ground floor features two fireplaces and portable gas heaters, though winters here are usually mild. Thanks to Starlink, we have fast, stable internet, perfect for working remotely. Upstairs, there are four spacious bedrooms. All of them have their own private bathroom except one. One bedroom has a double bed, while the other three have two single beds each, which can also be joined together. Downstairs, there’s a cozy living room with a fireplace, an additional sitting area, a large kitchen-dining room with another fireplace, and a generous bathroom with a bathtub. Outside, the house is surrounded by beautiful and inviting garden areas filled with olive trees, rose bushes, and orange trees. There’s a small pool, perfect for cooling off on hot summer days, along with a couple of loungers to relax with a book, and a hammock strung between trees for lazy afternoons. The estate itself is vast, with open fields, forested paths, scenic viewpoints, and countless quiet corners to explore and enjoy. For people who live in the city or in colder places: please keep in mind that this is a house in the countryside. Especially in summer, you may encounter ants, mosquitoes, bees, etc. Although the windows have screens, it's important to clean up food scraps thoroughly or use bug spray to stay more comfortable. The surrounding area is also full of interest. This region has great archaeological value, with one of the highest concentrations of megalithic monuments in Europe. Around 50 dolmens are spread across 10 well-marked walking routes. Just 30 minutes away lies the picturesque Portuguese village of Marvão, perched on a hilltop with incredible views and medieval charm. Other fascinating destinations are within easy reach by car: Portalegre (40 minutes), Cáceres (1 hour), Mérida (1.5 hours), Lisbon (2 hours and 45 minutes), Coimbra (2.5 hours), Porto (3.5 hours), Serra da Estrela Natural Park (2.5 hours), and the stunning Serra de São Mamede Natural Park (30 minutes). Come to disconnect, to rest, and to experience the calm and private charm of rural life, surrounded by nature, history, and cultural treasures, just minutes from the Spanish-Portuguese border. If you'd like to see more photos, I've included a link at the bottom with around 100 pictures.