Eirigo

The village of Eirigo, where Os Espigueiros das Boas Vistas is located, is known for its stunning views over the valley of Mortágua, with the Serra da Lousã and Serra do Açor in the far distance, some 50 kilometres away. The village is around an altitude of 333 metres above sealevel, in between Mortágua (100 metres altitude) and the Serra do Caramulo (1074 metres altitude). In winter the village has a climate that is several degrees higher than Mortágua, because there is much more sun above the clouds and mist of the valley. In summer it stays a little cooler than the surroundings. The nights are normally quite cool up there.

The village of Eirigo is between 1000 and 1500 years old. It was first mentioned in the records in the 11th century AD, after the ‘reconquista’. There are several theories regarding the name and age of Eirigo, which date the village to either Roman, Celtic or Visigothic times. The narrow streets and walkways (or quelhas) might even hint to Moorish times. The older houses are made out of xisto (schist) stones which are quarried locally. In the stone walls big, white quartz stones have been used. Those hard quartz stones can be found in the landscape, some small and some as big as a car or van.

The village overlooks the forest and is surrounded by fields with grapevines, olive trees and vegetables, in which you can walk around. It is fertile land, so villagers might share their surplus vegetables with you. It has a communal irrigation system for the fields, which is still being used by the villagers and is unique for the area. The irrigation starts at a large water tank, in which local people used to swim and bathe in the old days. Until some fifty years ago the village had a staggering fourty ‘juntos’: fourty pairs of oxes, for plowing the fields and towing the carts. On the carts people used to transport pine trees along the dirt roads, all the way to the railway station in Mortágua.

Currently the village has about 20 inhabitants. The local people are still very active in maintaining the agricultural fields around in the valley, as has been done for countless generations. The village is very calm and relaxing. The sound of the birds and the wind is mixed with the occasional tractor passing by to the fields. Don’t be surprise when you are invited into someone’s adega (wine cellar) to drink one or more glasses of their home made wine and taste home made corn bread with smoked ham. Almost everyone in Eirigo (or Mortágua for that matter) makes their own wine and is happy to share it.

Fresh goods in Eirigo

The bakery visits Eirigo on Tuesday and Saturday around 10am (honking the horn). Every Wednesday afternoon there is a mobile supermarket in Eirigo. Every Friday a fish salesman comes to Eirigo (to the delight of the local cats). The local inhabitants are more than happy to share their fresh vegetables with you. You can decide yourself what you like to give in return.