São Lourenço do Barrocal new family programme
Portugal’s São Lourenço do Barrocal estate launches a new family programme inspired by the region’s rich agricultural history
After this year’s restrictions, we could all do with spending time together outdoors, enjoying a bit of sun and some gentle activity. And this summer, the 200-year-old family run estate of São Laurenco do Barrocal, in Portugal’s southern Alentejo region, is offering families the chance to get back to nature with its Farmland Families programme.
The programme offers guests of all ages a taste of farm life, with a range of outdoor activities, wildlife and learning experiences on offer that celebrate the region’s agricultural heritage. guests. The estate itself sits on a 780-hectare area of this unspoilt corner of Portugal and was once home to fifty families who farmed it side-by-side. It continues to provide food to the surrounding area today, along with a winery and spa as well as outdoor pools, vineyards, olive groves and stables for guests.
The Alentejo is one of Portugal’s most important agricultural areas, a sweeping land of plains and flatlands dotted with cork and olive trees, and the estate’s four-night programme hopes to encourage foodies to understand the flavours and ingredients of the region and teach children about the origins of their food. Little ones can plant their own seedlings in a dedicated children’s vegetable patch in the estate’s organic garden in a children’s gardening class, while budding naturalists of all ages can join resident ornithologist Nuno Guégués for birdwatching sessions and learn about the bird species that visit the area including the European bee eater, booted eagle and corn bunting. Nuno also leads regular gentle ethnobotanical hikes out into the surrounding countryside to learn about local medicinal, aromatic and edible plants, including gum rockrose, wild carrots and umbrella milkwort.
Traditional pottery masterclasses and baking classes foster an appreciation of the region’s heritage, while families can even take part in the annual wine harvest and harvesting the local olives in traditional style throughout August and September.
And as warm summer night falls, guests can look up for some perspective at a private stargazing session with astronomers from the local Dark Sky Observatory spotting stars, nebulae and galaxies above them, in startling clarity thanks to the estate’s location within the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve.
‘Farmland Families’ São Lourenço do Barrocal starts from €4,356 for a family of four. Price includes four nights’ accommodation, full-board, children’s gardening class, a bird watching workshop, a birdhouse and feeder’s workshop for children, ethnobotanical hike, sport fishing masterclass, pottery class and stargazing session.