Close to the Alentejo town of Barrancos is the Nature Park of Noudar, located on a 1,000-hectare estate, Herdade da Coitadinha, nestled between peaks and hills and delimited by the serpentine of the river Ardila and the Múrtega stream. Bordering Spain, this Estate holds stories of smuggling and the Spanish Civil War.

The Park was created following the acquisition of Herdade da Coitadinha by EDIA (Company of Development and Infrastructure of Alqueva) in 1997, with the objective of developing on this property a compensation project for the loss of habitats induced by Alqueva. The natural values, namely the holm oak forest, justified its acquisition and are also the reason for its inclusion in the Natura 2000 Network. Several trails are signposted, which can be done on foot, by bicycle or by night (all-terrain electric vehicles), and where it is possible to observe birds of prey, admire the pastures and grazing of Mertolenga and Garvonesa cows, find tracks of wild boars and traces of the passage of deer and foxes, and of otters near the mills of water.

At the Park’s restaurant, “Pançona”, grilled Alentejo black pork or Mertolenga beef, flavored with rosemary from our organic gardens, make the wonders of those who visit us. Visitors can also take a tour of the countryside, a picnic basket with Alentejo bread, sausages from Barrancos and other delicacies.

The recovery and adaptation of the original architecture of Herdade da Coitadinha gave 2 accommodation units: Casa do Monte, with 6 double rooms, and Casa da Malta, with 4 double rooms and 2 family rooms with capacity for 4 people. The pool has a privileged view of Noudar Castle and the holm oak forest.