Talasnal is a tiny schist village located approximately 12 km from the village of Lousã in the district of Coimbra. It’s one of the 12 schist villages in the Lousã mountain range, sitting on the western part of the Lousã mountain itself. Featuring fairy tale houses, and surrounded by pristine nature, the village is considered one of the prettiest schist villages in Portugal!
A Brief Introduction to the History of Talasnal
It is reported that human occupation in Talasnal dates back to the mid-17th century and early 18th century. Before this period, the area had shepherds as seasonal inhabitants during spring and summer. A fine issued by Lousã’s prefecture in 1679 is one of the first documents that suggests permanent occupation in the village.
By the early 20th century, Talasnal was comprised of 129 inhabitants, 2 olive-oil mills, and even has its own school. Unfortunately, those who lived in Talasnal gradually left the village, and by 1981 it had only 2 permanent residents. Many of the original schist houses inevitably started to decay with the area’s gradual abandonment.
The Rise of Talasnal
However, with rural tourism’s rise in popularity, came the initiative to recover Talasnal and many other traditional villages in the central region of Portugal. The initiative was led by an organisation named ADXTUR – Agência para o Desenvolvimento Turístico das Aldeias do Xisto – the Agency for the Tourist Development of the Schist Villages. ADXTUR was joined by 21 municipalities in central Portugal in recuperating the schist villages.
Local inhabitants and business owners were also encouraged to take part in the recovery process. At present time, most of the houses in Talasnal have tourism purposes, so they are either local accommodation or commercial establishments, although a few of them are also second homes for a few local families.
How to Get to Talasnal
The most straightforward way to get to Talasnal, if you are coming from different areas of Portugal, is to first get to the village of Lousã. If you are driving, from Lousã you should head towards Cacilhas, and take a left on Estrada das Hortas. Which is the road that will take you all the way up to Talasnal. The road is very narrow, and we definitely recommend downloading the route on your phone beforehand, since phone signal is not always reliable on the mountain. There are a few points along the way that can cause some confusion.
On the way to Talasnal, you will come across a couple of viewpoints that you can stop to see the incredible area around it. Miradouro ‘Isto é Lousã’ is one of them, with stunning views into Lousã, and surroundings. There’s also picnic tables next to the miradouro, so it’s a nice little spot to stop for a snack and drink if you bought your own supplies! Once you arrive in Talasnal, there’s plenty of on-street parking spaces, but depending on the day or time of the year you visit, it might be tricky to find a space available.
Can you Get to Talasnal with Public Transport?
Unfortunately, at the time this article was written (and updated in 2025), there are no buses or other types of public transport connecting Talasnal to nearby towns and villages. The best way of visiting Talasnal for visitors is with a rental car. Public transport is awkward, lengthy, and requires multiple transfers, however if you’re adventurous it can be done!
The simplest way by public transport is to get to Coimbra first. All major cities have buses to Coimbra, with a one-way ticket from Lisbon to Coimbra, with the budget operator Flixbus costing as cheap as €4.99.
For those who prefer trains, Coimbra is part of the national train network that runs from North to South. With a one-way ticket between Lisbon and Coimbra costing €12 with the discount for booking in advance. Now to travel between Coimbra and Lousã, the bus operator is Metro Mondego, and the journey has the duration of 55 minutes, costing €3 for a one-wat ticket. It’s important to bear in mind that this line only runs during school days. From Lousã you will have to take a taxi which costs between €10-12 per ride.
Again, it’s important to keep in mind that it might be tricky to find taxi drivers willing to drive there and back, so perhaps it’s best to try to arrange a return ride with the same taxi driver. For the more active, it’s also possible to hike from Lousã to Talasnal, we will be covering the main hiking trails in the area later in the guide.
What to See and Do in Talasnal
As you might imagine at this point, the main thing there’s to do in Talasnal is to appreciate the beauty of this picturesque village, and the nature around it. While Talasnal is not the smallest of the 27 schist villages in the country, it’s still pretty small and can easily be seen in an hour or two. However, if you decide to have a meal in one of the restaurants or go for a hike, it can easily turn into a full morning of activities or even an entire day. Continue to read for our favourite things to see and do in Talasnal.
Miradouro do Talasnal – Talasnal Viewpoint
About 5 minutes before you arrive to Talasnal, you will come across a pink wooden frame just on the left side of the road. The frame is simply the viewpoint of Talasnal as the phrase painted on the wood may suggest, ‘Talasnal Montanhas de Amor’ – meaning something along the lines of ‘Love mountains of Talasnal’.
Seen from distance, the structure might not look overly impressive, but once you get closer you will see it aligns perfectly with the village, so it’s a great place to grab a picture of the whole of Talasnal. Keep in mind that there’s no parking space, so you might have to be quick if you want to make a stop there.
Wonder the Pretty Streets of Talasnal
With a landscape that looks like it could be used in a period drama, it’s not surprising that Talasnal is referred to as ‘the love mountains’. Here, the schist houses contrast with the green of grape vines and purple hydrangeas. Our favourite thing was to wonder the streets of the village, meandering through the labyrinth of pretty houses, and discover row after row of schist houses, or a new viewpoint.
Hiking in Talasnal
If hiking is what makes you tick, Talasnal is the place for you. With several hiking trails that lead to Talasnal and other nearby schist villages. The main trail in the area goes by the name of ‘Caminho do Xisto da Lousã’ or Lousã’s Schist Walking Trail. Within this larger trail there are several routes that can be done separately.
Caminho do Xisto da Lousã – Rota dos Serranos
This moderate difficulty trail has a total of 6.4km, and an estimated 3-hour duration. It starts in Lousã’s castle, taking you through 3 schist villages, Talasnal, Chiqueiro, and Casal Novo, before returning to Castelo da Lousã. This route can be combined with a walk from Lousã village to the castle along the M580 (Passadiços da Lousã) which connects Lousã to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy nearby the castle. Here you can find detailed information about Rota dos Serranos.
Caminho do Xisto da Lousã – Rota das 4 Aldeias
Rota das 4 Aldeias is a hike that connects 4 villages within Lousã’s mountain range, Candal, Catarredor, Vaqueirinho, and Talasnal. With a length of 9,9km, the hike is considered moderate and can be completed in 5 hours. The recommended path starts at Candal and ends in Lousã’s castle, taking you through pretty pine and cork forests, preserved schist villages, small waterfalls, and a river beach (Praia Fluvial de Nossa Senhora da Piedade). Here you will find everything you need to know about Rota das 4 Aldeias.
Where to Eat and Drink in Talasnal
As Talasnal is quite small, you might feel like there’s not much to do around the village apart from looking at schist houses, so combining your trip to the village with a meal in one of the restaurants is a great way to get more from Talasnal and experience the local culture and food. As they are built inside former family homes, it’s also a good opportunity to see how the houses look from inside. Here’s some (if not all) of the places that are worth a visit.
O Retalinho – O Retalinho is a lovely place to grab a coffee and refreshments, the cherry on top is their pretty deck overlooking the mountains. We recommend trying their signature chestnut pastry (retalhinho).
Ti Lena – Tucked away on a tiny street of the village, Ti Lena offers delicious traditional food in a picturesque environment. During the winter months, a log burner makes it even more homey. This is one of the busiest restaurants in Talasnal, so we recommend booking a table in advance.
Taberna e Restaurante do Talasnal – Another picturesque restaurant in the village, with many options from a light lunch to more hearty mountain food. It’s also a good place to buy souvenirs and small gifts.
O Curral – A great place to have drinks and petiscos. Their menu is small but quite diverse, with cheese, cured meats, sandwiches, and even the occasional soup. On top of that, they also have a lovely terrace with stunning views over the mountains.
Should You Stay in Talasnal?
For those whose holiday plans are to slow down and enjoy a little bit of nature and slow down, Talasnal might be the ideal place to stay for a couple of days. With the bonus of having the unique experience of staying in a traditional Portuguese schist house. If you want to include more activities during the day, Talasnal can be combined with day trips to the nearby schist villages within Lousã’s mountain range.
The downside is that the village is small and relatively disconnected from the nearby towns, falling a little short when it comes to restaurants and things to do and see. For some people, Talasnal can be considered a more day trip kind of place, and it might be worth taking a look at accommodations in Lousã or even Coimbra. But if Talasnal seems like the kind of place you would like to be stationed at, continue on reading to find out the best accommodation in Talasnal.
Where to Stay in Talasnal
Casa da Urze is a restored 1-bedroom house run by the same owners of the restaurant O Retalinho. It has all you might need for a comfortable stay, including a fully equipped kitchen, and a log burner.
Casa do Talasnal is a luxury guest house with only three rooms. You can book just a room or the entire place, so it’s a great option for those traveling in groups. They have a lovely swimming pool and a barbecue area.
Another great option is the homely Casa Princesa Peralta which offers comfortable rooms and a basic breakfast for a great price. For the the full list of accommodation available in Talasnal click here!
Should you Visit Talasnal
Talasnal is one of the 27 schist villages spread across central Portugal, and perhaps the prettiest of them all. It’s a beautiful place to visit if you take an interest in historic villages and picturesque sites. Or simply if you just want a break from the tourist buzz of the bigger cities in Portugal. Since the village is quite small, it can all be seen in a couple of hours, making for a great day trip for those staying in Coimbra and surroundings.
Keep Reading
- Schist Villages – Exploring Portugal’s Schist Villages
- Central Portugal – Exploring Portugal’s Most Diverse Region
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