The lure of rural retreats has never been greater, with the rise of remote working and an increased focus on healthy living.
Catering to this trend, a unique parcel of land has come to market in the lush Peneda Gerês National Park which fringes the northern Portugal-Spain border.
Gerês — as it is better known to locals — boasts a wealth of natural beauty with its interior serving up mature oak forests, soaring granite cliffs, marshes, rivers, lagoons, jaw dropping waterfalls and more.
The nine-acre lot — as listed on JamesEdition for €2.2 million – is already seeing real estate developers and hoteliers go head to head, as land in this region is especially hard to come by.
Residents Real Estate, which is representing the sale, boasts an unmatchable reputation in managing unique plots in and around Porto’s prime zones and the agency is particularly dedicated to working with foreign investors and buyers, with all logistics taken care of.
The Gerês plot — which has been imagined as the ‘Novainhos Eco-Resort’ — currently stands as one of the agency’s most exclusive listings.
Nestled amid woodland on a riverbank, the leafy estate is conveniently located around an hour from Porto and very close to the historic city of Braga.
A Stunning Eco-Resort Crafted by a Distinguished Portuguese Architect
Preliminary designs, by renowned Portuguese architect Guilherme Machado Vaz, reveal the plot’s extraordinary potential, with his vision of a slick eco-resort decked out with ten rooms, 20 bungalows and a state-of-the-art spa.
In a bid to blend into the natural landscape, Guilherme went about designing the photogenic structures from a spread of natural materials and using open-plan designs that bring the outside in. The complex slopes towards the water’s edge, with the wooden structures hugging the terrain.
In terms of the spaces, Guilherme has imagined an upper floor with a vast rooftop terrace which allows guests to peer out over the treetops. This upper deck would also be home to multiple social areas including a lounge area and restaurant. The two lower floors would house the eco-resort’s rooms, with five located on each floor but far enough apart to guarantee guests’ peace and privacy.
With plenty of space to play with, each of the hotel suites would offer living areas, large closets, workstations and ensuites, as well as large terraces.
As a resort, the designers envisage a spa on the first floor which would use water from the existing spring to offer different experiences through a series of indoor and outdoor pools. There would also be treatment and massage rooms, a sauna and a Hamman.
Below the property, the designers imagined an underground carpark and various storage and maintenance facilities.
In the heart of the eco-resort, an elevated wooden walkway will feature as a viewpoint. It would also lead to an elevator, giving access to the ground level and to another walkway connecting to the mirror-like reservoir.
A Peerless Locale Amidst the Spectacular Landscape of a National Park
One of the most unique features of this plot is its highly sought-after location within Portugal’s first and only national park.
The Peneda-Gerês National Park occupies an area of 69,594.48 hectares in the north of Portugal, and it boasts not only a diverse spread of flora and fauna but it also has a rich historical and cultural heritage.
Some of its gems include megalithic stone tombs dating to the third century, an intact Roman road which spans the park and remains popular with cyclists, and the remnants of Castro Laboreiro, an imposing castle dating to the 12th century.
In terms of getting to the park, the closest international airport is in Porto, while the closest railway station is just 0.3 miles from the park’s headquarters.
Portugal in itself is tipped as one of the prime destinations for real estate investment in Europe. Renowned for both favorable weather and tax climate, it offers diverse opportunities for property investors. The Golden Visa program, quality of life, and steady economic growth make Portugal a promising market for those seeking both lifestyle and financial benefits.
Expertise on Hand to Help
Overall this Gerês estate makes for an ideal investment opportunity, for developers or for individuals, with the draw to rural areas only set to grow.
More information can be obtained through Residents Real Estate who have more than ten years worth of experience working with foreign buyers and investors. The company’s expertise includes navigating different real estate laws, managing taxation, and the qualifications needed for golden visas.
