Abelinha
Farm dog, after four long years in an animal shelter
She has a quick sniff at every new guest and then settles back into the shade. Lazy, friendly, unimpressed — and waiting patiently outside the door.
Olá
About us and our project
We are Max and Pia
We only moved to the Quinta Serra de São Mamede with our baby in March 2026. Now we live here among olive trees, old stone walls and lavender. Step by step we are turning the Quinta into the Bärdade: a holiday farm where families can have a restful holiday and the children can play outside, get to know the animals and lend a hand themselves.
The name is a little play on words — it combines the Portuguese word “Herdade” for a farm with the German “Bär” for bear, because we simply think bears are wonderful.
Our goal is to create an inclusive holiday paradise where everyone can enjoy their holiday. Our particular focus is on families with disabled children, who in many places find it far from easy to get a restful holiday. Behind the project lies Pia's own holiday experience as the sibling of a disabled child. Back then her family discovered an inclusive holiday farm in the Algarve that became Pia's favourite place in the world. Sadly that farm disappeared long ago - so now we are building one ourselves!
Little by little we are finding out what you need on holiday and what you enjoy — and we invite you to shape the Bärdade together with us.
Coming with a disabled child?
Then do write to us beforehand and tell us what you need. We will tell you honestly what already works here and what does not yet — and we will set up as much as we can.
Who lives on the farm
The sheep
They belong to our neighbour
They graze on our land and move between pastures regularly. From 2027 we plan to have sheep of our own.
Goats
They should move in in autumn 2026
They are curious, fun to watch, and they love a cuddle and a handful of food.
Chickens
They will join us in winter
Eggs for breakfast and the first job for the children each morning: seeing what is in the nest.
Donkeys
Planned for 2027
Not stubborn at all, but good-natured and patient — that is how we imagine the donkeys we want to bring here in 2027.
Pigs
They may move in later on
We would like to get two pot-bellied pigs and let them root around a corner of the olive grove.
What is growing right now
Stables and pastures
fences, shelters and water for the first animals.
Step-free paths
bit by bit we are rebuilding the link between the car park, the houses and the pool with fewer barriers.
A place to join in
on our farm children and grown-ups can help with feeding, mucking out and cuddling.
Orchard
figs, grapes, nectarines and prickly pears grow here, and everything is there to be nibbled.
The Quinta Serra de São Mamede
The Quinta is the farm on which the Bärdade is taking shape: ten hectares of land with 260 olive trees in all, fruit trees and large granite rocks, only three kilometres from Castelo de Vide, right in the middle of the Serra de São Mamede nature park.
In 2007 a Dutch couple bought the derelict farm and rebuilt the three existing houses with great love of detail. Guests have been able to spend their holidays at the Quinta Serra de São Mamede since 2010. In 2026 we took the Quinta over, and now a new chapter begins here: we are carrying on the holiday farm, but with animals and a focus on family holidays.