Vila Ruiva is a hamlet with only 168 residents, located in the Municipality of Fornos de Algodres, up on Estrela Mountains, with a history of over 5000 years. Just 39 km away is Viseu, a beautiful and thriving countryside city dating back to Roman times. The region where both Vila Ruiva and Viseu are inserted, produces fine table wines and the “serra cheese” one of the best in the world. The local cuisine and pastry baking are also very much appreciated
Inaugurated in the summer of 1999, INATEL Fornos de Algodres is situated in a rural building with simple architectural lines that was built at the beginning of the 20th century. A new contemporary-style building was built in 2005.
With over five thousand years of history, Fornos de Algodres preserves an important historical-archaeological heritage. This rich heritage, which has been handed down through the ages by successive civilisations that occupied this territory, manifests itself not only in terms of archaeological remains (castros, megalithic monuments, stone burial sites), but also in architectural and artistic terms (religious monuments, palacetes, pillories, Roman bridges).
Facilities
- INATEL Fornos de Algodres has 32 totally equipped rooms
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Meeting room
- Wi-Fi
- Private parking
- Swimming pool
- Game room
- Library
Nearby places of interest
Fornos de Algodres:
- Igreja da Misericórdia (church)
- Manor houses
- Centro de Interpretação Arqueológica (Archaeological Interpretive Centre)
- Capela de Nossa Senhora da Graça (chapel)
- Roman pave road
Algodres:
- Pillory and Igreja da Misericórdia (church)
Matança:
- Anta e Necrópole das Forcadas (Dolmen and stone burial site)
Queiriz:
- Fraga da Pena
Sobral Pichorro:
- Capela de Santo Cristo e dos Girões (chapel)
Cortiço:
- Dolmen and olive oil mill
Infias:
- Roman remains and a spectacular view of the Serra da Estrela mountains
Activities
- Extreme sports (prior booking required)
- Paragliding “baptism” flights
- Archery
- Sliding
- Rappelling
- Orienteering
- Simulated hunting
- Hiking
- ATB (rental)
Handicrafts
In Fornos de Algodres
- Light metal work
- Clogs
- Arraiolos rugs
- Lace and Embroidery
In Juncais
- Pottery and Decorative Ceramics
- Cheese dairies where the famous Queijo da Serra da Estrela is made