Lafões

The monastery of S. Cristovão was a “nullius” abbey, i.e. the abbot did not report to the bishops, thus enjoying a great degree of autonomy. It was probably the first Portuguese monastery to join the Cistercian order, about 1140 and was extinguished in 1834, on the occasion of the eviction of all religious orders. There are no remains of the primitive building, the existing monastic residence, church and farming annexes being a reconstruction dating from the XVIIth. century, carefully recuperated some 20 years ago. Besides housing the owner´s family, it offers to guest 7 double rooms and a suite. The imposing and elegant characteristics of the monastery are particularly evident in the cloisters, refectory, monumental staircase and in the big rooms which served as cellar and granary. The setting of the monastery on a small wooded peninsula, surrounded on three sides by the river, represents a special attraction. Paths in the wood invite the guest to get in touch with an unpolluted ambiance, untouched by man and in which silence is broken only by birdsong and the roar of the river, which in some places creates ponds excavated in the rock, true natural swimming pools. The monastery, although isolated and inviting to meditation, relaxing and sports (walking, swimming; golf available at short distance) is easy to reach and is only 50 to 100 km far from Porto, Aveiro, Viseu, Lamego and Douro valley.


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