Garden House at Fountain Retreat

Garden House is a compact stone-built cottage on the Fountain Retreat estate, with one double bedroom, a sofa bed in the living area for extra guests, and a kitchenette fitted with fridge, stovetop, microwave and coffee machine. A dining table looks out over the garden, and the bathroom sits just outside the bedroom, off the shared hallway. Outside, a private furnished terrace opens onto flowering grounds, with access to the estate's outdoor pool.

The house sits in Barroselas, a few minutes from Viana do Castelo, in the heart of the Minho countryside. Village life here runs on local shops, weekly fairs and family-run restaurants, while trails and bike paths trace the surrounding hills. Viana do Castelo's historic centre and the Santa Luzia Basilica are a short drive away.

Mornings might start with coffee on the terrace, garden air still cool, before a walk into Barroselas for bread and conversation. Evenings call for a swim, then dinner at the outdoor table as the fields darken around you.