Alegre

Alegre is a 3 star hotel in Luso. An old Manor-house of a large estate that included the most part of "Luso d'Além" and part of the Bussaco forest, it would have been built, possibly in 1859, by the Graciosa Count as a holidays' house.

The style the building presents nowadays is the result of sucessive alterations operated during its almost 150 years of history.

About 30km north of Coimbra there is the Bussaco National Forest. The most beautiful botanical park of Portugal.

Under the surveillance of the religious order of "Carmelitas Descalços" between 1600 and 1834, it was here that were planted many of the new plants brought by the portuguese ships from the lands that were being discovered.

In 1810, it was also the place for one of the battles between the British army and Napoleon troops, where the British, helped by their Portuguese allies suceed to win.

By the end of the XIX century, it was also built a palace that is nowadays the central point of interest of the forest.

Between centenary trees, the fountains and the birds' chirp, Bussaco's Forest, the ideal place to be transported to earthly paradise.