Sunny, quiet ground floor of modern house in big garden by a small creek

Description

In a green countryside setting on the outskirts of Braga, up on the hill of the Bom Jesus sanctuary, the house is just a short stroll away from this UNESCO World Heritage site. It is perfectly located to rest and to visit a city with some of the richest baroque religious and civilian architecture in the country. Driving downtown takes less than 10 minutes. The University of Minho, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory and shopping malls are even closer. The city remains invisible from the house, which is nested in a small hillside valley, among woods and fields. On clear days, the sea shines on the western horizon. The ground floor apartment is fully independent. On three sides, wide French windows open on a big garden in a punkish style: year-round flowers, citrus and other fruit trees. Lots of birds, butterflies and bumblebees. More wildlife is present in the area albeit generally elusive: foxes, badgers, common genets, hedgehogs, salamanders, slow worms… Down a few stairs, a small stream runs under the big trees on the south side of the garden. The moss on a ruined watermill adds a romantic touch. A tree-house is under construction. Be it in the garden or under the porches, the numerous tables, benches, chairs, swing-seats and hammocks make it difficult to choose a shaded spot to read, write or take a nap. The place is great for a creative retreat -- a novel written here in 2021 is now published. The apartment comprises a spacious fitted kitchen/living-room, one big bedroom, one small bedroom. A fourth room is a living/study space with table football and an extra sofa-bed. Equipped with a woodstove, it is cosy on rainy days. Air conditioning in the kitchen/living-room. All doors and windows are fitted with collapsible insect nets. In front of the two main rooms, east and west, two porches provide nice, sheltered spaces for breakfast and tea-time. The city is on a Caminho de Santiago de Compostela -- and the end of the trail is only a 2-hour drive away. Another World Heritage site, the historic center of Guimarães, can be reached in half an hour. In fact, Braga is a very convenient location to visit northwestern Portugal, from Porto (suburban train) to Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo or Melgaço, from the beaches (about 35km away) to the Peneda Gerês national park (hot springs on the Spanish side, at Lovios and at Bande, where the basins date from Roman times). Other features of the apartment: High-speed internet, 50-inch TV, cable service, lots of CDs and DVDs Archery equipment Hiking and mountain bike trails literally at your doorstep. Possible combination with a stay in an apartment in Lisbon. Listing URL below (see 'Property Link')