Chão Sobral, "Ground of the cork trees", has been, for more than 500 years, a small village nestled between 600 and 700 meters altitude in the Açor Mountains, "Goshawk Mountains", which overlooks the "Estrela Mountains" and "Caramulo Mountains". http://chaosobral.org/index_pt.htm

We are located 16 km from the historic village of "Piódão", a jewel of xist dry stone construction, http://piodao.no.sapo.pt/

11 kms from Colcurinho Peak (viewpoint and place of pilgrimage at 1242 meters altitude) a military strategic point some 1000 years ago (?), as the ruins of a ring wall around the peak are witness ..., http://chaosobral.org/cerca_cabeco/cabeco.htm

3 kms from the remarkable Sanctuary of Our Lady of Prayer, http://www.senhoradaspreces.chaosobral.org/index_pt.htm

and 10 kms from the "Village of Ten". http://www.aldeiadasdez.chaosobral.org/index_pt.htm

Reside in "Chão Sobral" about 140 inhabitants and a very active young people in the local association to carry out various recreational and cultural activities, which include mountain Walksand Mountain-Bike Tours, "sustainable agriculture feasts", and much more.

While most workers are leaving, and returning daily, to provide services outside the village, there are many activities based on local natural resources: spirits, sausages, jams, sheep and goat cheese, vegetables, honey, wooden and xist slate crafts, knives "Corte Real", ribbons and Arraiolos mats, and fire wood.

This is the place where was born and I will be very happy to meet with you there!

It is a very beautiful place, so we don't get tired of making many pictures : http://chaosobral.org/fotogra.htm

The global cultural and energy use change of the last 100 years has changed the villagers habits.

But I think the next 100 years will be much more interesting, in Chão Sobral too ... as we, villagers of the Mountains, are already much more diverse in terms of cultural back ground.

We have travelled more, gained more experience of working all over the world.

We are also from England, France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, USA ...

It is really a new bioregional community emerging in the "Goshawk Mountains".