With sensory experiences, there is a wellness retreat in Vila Pouca de Aguiar designed in balance with nature
It was love at first sight. When Holly Niemela came across the abandoned land ripped apart by the clear waters of the Tinhela River, hidden among dense untouched nature in the town of Reboredo, in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, she knew that this was the place she was looking for to make her dream of a life.
Holly Niemela and Edouard Payen
Nicole Le Saout
North American, with Finnish roots and living in France since the 80s, Holly and her French husband Edouard Payen, chose this special place, isolated and with no more distractions than those offered by nature, to build a personal retreat. Everything changed when Edouard discovered adjoining land that expanded the property and the relationship with the Tinhela River, omnipresent, with sound and clear water, natural pools and waterfalls, throughout the development. They decided to build, without impacting the surroundings, a well-being retreat designed to be in communion with nature and the inner self.
Eight years passed – a pandemic and a fire in 2022 that almost completely destroyed the eight houses and two restored mills, ready to open – but in the summer of 2023 the dream finally took shape.
Tinhela 610
Nicole Le Saout
Silence that you can hear the water running
Consciousness (or awareness). This is the main focus that guides Tinhela 610, an unconventional refuge, blessed by the flow of the Tinhela River, which embraces the entire property, not only with clear water for diving, but also with several waterfalls and the melody that accompanies the stay. Sleeping, bathing, eating and moving are the four pillars that guide the experience. Here there is no television, bathroom or running water in the room, but everything has a reason for being. Luxury lies in the increasingly rare possibility of listening to the dense nature that shelters this refuge, looking at an abundant starry sky, or reducing the consumption of water to the absolute minimum, which is fetched from the source, so not to waste.
Tinhela 610
At the table, the zero waste policy also applies. Fueled by products from the permaculture garden, everything is used, with creativity and skill. Frenchwoman Mathilde Deniau – who worked for Channel before arriving at Tinhela 610 – is currently the resident guest chef, but others will take over the kitchen and create their own gastronomic artistic residency. Meals take place in an informal joint dining room or on the Fibonacci Terrace, outdoors and with space for a barbecue.
The awareness of what surrounds us, but also of the inner voice that remains silent in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, is awakened in various ways, contributing to physical, mental and emotional balance.
Tinhela 610
Nicole Le Saout
Nourish, exercise and paint
In addition to the somatic movement, meditation or Chi Gong sessions taught by Holly and Edouard, other specialists are invited to visit the space, bringing their knowledge to yoga, painting or nutrition sessions. it is. Florence Rolando, a nutritionist working in Porto, teaches a nutrition session based on the relationship each person has with food and assesses the general condition of the body, identifying needs for improvement. Romas Taurus teaches how to make paints from natural elements and leads an outdoor painting session, a way to relax and portray the surroundings.
For collective retreats, corporate team building sessions or other corporate events, each group can bring their own teachers, renting the entire space for a minimum of two nights. The property is also open to private reservations, with a minimum stay of two nights.
Tinhela 610
From the “field of dreams†to the “fairyland†tent
Access to the eight wooden houses (from €250/night – minimum two nights) and the two mills from Roman times is via a walkway. The buildings blend into the landscape and guarantee a restful sleep, lulled only by the sounds of nature, particularly the river’s flow. If on the outside wood connects with the surrounding nature, on the inside this is the favorite material for stripped-down decoration, without noise or objects that are not essential. A Japanese-inspired bath and Finnish sauna fulfill the same function. The idea is to eliminate all types of excesses and distractions in order to focus on what matters.
The architectural project belongs to Luís Rebelo de Andrade, also responsible, among others, for the Pedras Salgadas Spa & Nature Park, nearby.
Tinhela 610
Nicole Le Saout
Also the amenities They are natural and organic, from the Alfa Flor brand, located in Moledo, which uses only natural ingredients in products such as face cream, bioactive water, cream deodorant or body cream.
There are several spaces designed to simply be or exercise your body and mind. From the old restored mill – Mill A-, to the platform of outdoor yoga, the tent where various sessions take place or the field of dreams where you can relax, bathe in a waterfall or exercise. Fresh air and water are omnipresent company.
Tinhela 610
Nicole Le Saout
Inner sustainability
âWe believe that, to build sustainable and ecological economies, our future world and a healthy planet, we must understand our own relationship with nature and with ourselves. We use the term “inner sustainability†to describe the process of self-knowledge and being aware of how to better manage your own present and future choices,†you can read in the project description. Next to the mining complexes of Tresminas and Jales, and with capacity for 14 guests, the accommodation results in an ecological village that offers a unique and personalized experience, in a sustainable environment
Located in a sheltered clearing in the middle of the mountain, the Tinhela 610 (Reboredo, Vila Pouca de Aguiar. Tel. +33 682584505) is fertile field for immersive sensory experiences that awaken dormant senses.
