Covilhã: A Tourist Resort in the Ruins of a Mine

9 September 2017

According to an announcement yesterday, the ruins of an old mining operation in the parish of Cortes do Meio, in the municipality of Covilhã, will give rise to a luxury tourism project, in an investment of 8.5 million euros.

“It is a luxury tourist development designed to attract customers with high purchasing power.  The project will be highly differentiated, and visitors will be able to enjoy a set of different and unique experiences,” said Pedro Castro, a businessman from Braga, who owns the farm and is leading the venture.

Known as “Estrelódromo”, a name which it shares with the company that was created to develop the new project, the venture has been under consideration since 2015 and will cover about 100 hectares of land, part of which is in the Parque Natural de Serra da Estrela.

According to the developer, the venture will be completed in two phases.  The first will involve an investment of 5.2 million euros in the construction of eight separate spaces, with a capacity for 48 guests and which will be built based on the pre-existing structures.

“The units were conceived from the ruins, and will incorporate sculptural and modern elements that allow a cohabitation between the existing and the new and between the interior and exterior spaces,” said Paulo Lobato, one of the architects responsible for the project.

With numerous points of comfort that aim to meet the exigencies of its intended target audience, the buildings stand out because of the use of mirrored glass that reflects nature in the building itself and allows natural light to enter, while simultaneously creating sensations of an extension of the inner area to the surrounding landscape.

The resort, which focuses on the juxtaposition of luxury and nature tourism, will feature a gymnasium, jacuzzi, spa areas as well as indoor pools in different accommodation units and which can be opened to create outdoor pools.

The facilities include a helipad, which will have the dual function of serving potential customers and, potentially, as a foothold to facilitate firefighting.

The venture will promote complementary activities, such as environmental and mining visits, pedestrian paths for hiking and the observation of stars, as well as tethered hot air ballooning and paragliding.

The investment should lead to the creation of 22 direct jobs, 14 of which will come in the first phase.

According to Mr Lobato, the project already has the required licenses and authorisations, and construction is planned for the middle of next year when he hopes to have his application for community funds approved.

Covilhã’s mayor, Vítor Pereira, was present at the ceremony and was very pleased.  He stressed that the local authority “cherished” this project from the outset and was convinced that the project could contribute to boosting tourism the entire region and, in particular, their county within the district of Castelo Branco.

Original Story: Diário Imobiliário

Translation: Richard Turner