Marruge Ecovillage

Nestled in the Caramulo Mountains in the municipality of Tondela, Marruge Ecovillage is a rural regeneration project centred on a traditional schist village fed by around 20 water springs. The initiative rests on three pillars: settling a young farmer to practise regenerative agriculture, including gourmet citrus, aromatic herbs, truffles and pasture-raised goat milk and cheese; attracting new residents through a sustainable, water-focused wellbeing eco-tourism offer, involving bioclimatic and fire-resilient renovation of the schist houses using local materials and regional artisans; and regenerating the surrounding forest to protect against wildfires and boost local biodiversity. The vision is for Marruge to become a car-free, digitally connected ecovillage where the sound of water is ever-present, powered by a renewable energy community and sustained by regenerative farming for food self-sufficiency. Planned infrastructure includes rural cottages, a rural hotel, a pop-up restaurant, a village shop, a co-working space, a bike hotel, a nature spa and event areas for business and cultural gatherings. Marruge already hosts wellbeing retreats, water therapy accompanied by the sound of waterfalls, bibliotherapy walks, forest bathing, intimate concerts, mindful cuisine, yoga, astronomy nights and traditional wood-fired lunches, drawing on the area's rich flora and fauna, including rare species, terraced agricultural landscapes and dry-stone walls. Partnerships with PURA Arquitectos, the Freguesia de Barreiro de Besteiros and the Casa do Povo de Barreiro de Besteiros support the project's ambition to become a replicable living laboratory for sustainable rural regeneration in Portugal.