About
The place
of reconnection
The story of a forgotten village and the woman who brought it back to life.
Maria
Maria do Patrocínio
It is through the village’s last inhabitant, the youngest of eleven siblings, that Gourim comes back to life. More than her birthplace, this is Maria’s “place of reconnection”: hers, and that of everyone she invites to discover Gourim.
What began as a personal project to return to her roots soon came to mean a new life, for Maria and for Gourim. The seven bends leading up to Casa Margou are the inspiration for her work.
From awareness to love, all her training and experience in Personal Development and Self-Knowledge is an ongoing discovery that she shares with everyone she meets. From this foundation came the four yearly retreats, one for each season.
“Because it is in the land that watches us grow that something of our identity remains untouched.”
Maria do Patrocínio
Therapies and sessions
Moments of encounter
As well as the retreats, Maria offers individual sessions by appointment, in Gourim or at another place to be agreed.
Life Coach · Member of IHCOS, International Humanistic Coaching Society
NLP Therapist · Neuro-Linguistic Programming
Family Constellations and Rebirthing
Appointments: +351 966 754 389 · info@casamargou.pt
Book a sessionWhat we believe in
Values, vision and mission
Values
Unity, Sharing, Freedom, Love, Respect and Honesty.
Vision
To contribute to a world where everyone can feel more whole.
Mission
To inspire and motivate our visitors to reconnect with themselves and with nature.
Sustainability
Our commitment
Located in a region of unique richness, preserving traditions and local resources, respecting our people and caring about reducing the impact of our activity are naturally part of who we are.
We are committed to managing Casa Margou sustainably: meeting the requirements of the Biosphere standard, training our team in the principles of Responsible Tourism and promoting good practices with guests, partners and suppliers, contributing to the local economy and to valuing what is ours and genuine.
We are committed to fighting any form of exploitation or discrimination, improving accessibility for all and seeking continuous improvement in every dimension of sustainability: social, economic and environmental.
Testimonials
Those who visit Gourim promise to return
“Seeing the mountains (literally) that Maria moved to make a dream come true, and to share it so openly and sincerely with friends, puts a lot of my life into perspective.”
Ricardo Fonseca · Coimbra
“On the terrace at Margou, gently stroked by a mild, soft breeze, the fragrance of the hillside reaches me, a blend of scents I cannot define but which goes through my body and wraps around my soul.”
Rosa Maria Oliveira · Viseu
“Gourim can’t be put into words, it really has to be lived. The peace, the people, the landscape, the sounds gave me one of the best weekends of my life.”
Fábio Rafael · Povoa Mundão, Viseu
“A dream place that I’ve had the privilege of getting to know and enjoying! When nature is this generous and someone comes along with the sensitivity and wisdom to open a door for us, this is the result. Congratulations, Maria.”
José Carvalho · Aveiro
“Gourim is a little piece of paradise. I went in winter, but I promise to come back in summer.”
Maria Alves · Porto
“Emotions felt... energising energy... a corner at the centre of the world... simply wonderful!”
Telmo Carvalho · Coimbra