Who we are
A company with a purpose
Gandum Village is more than a place to stay - it is the materialization of a vision that combines comfort, inspiration and positive impact. Created by Wiedemar & Almeida, Lda, we are a family business with purpose, founded by Martina Wiedemar and João Almeida, who have transformed their values and learning into a project that makes a difference.
Our History
Martina Wiedemar and João Almeida, both with training and experience in sustainable and regenerative development, share a passion for creating solutions that benefit both people and the planet. Martina, with a background in Geography and Climate Change, brings a scientific and practical perspective to environmental impact. João, with a degree in Sustainable Development, combines theory and practice, with an approach focused on tangible and social results.
Together, they created Wiedemar & Almeida, Lda, a company that puts purpose at the heart of its business, focusing on regenerative practices, sustainability and the well-being of its clients and the local community.
What Purpose Means to Us
Being a company with purpose means that profit is not our only objective. Every decision made at Gandum Village reflects our commitment to:
1. Regenerating the environment
We chose to build Gandum sustainably, with rammed earth walls, solar energy and an agroforestry that restores balance to the land.
2. Supporting the Local Community
We work with local producers and artisans, promoting the Alentejo's economy and valuing its traditions.
3. Offering Comfort with Consciousness
We want our guests to have an authentic experience, where well-being meets sustainability.
4. Inspiring Positive Change
We believe that every visit to Gandum can be an opportunity to show that living consciously is not only possible, but also rewarding.
A Family Business,
A Shared Mission
As a couple and partners, Martina and João guide Wiedemar & Almeida with the conviction that business can be a force for good. At Gandum Village, every detail has been thought out to create a lasting positive impact, both for guests and for the planet.
Join Our Mission
When you choose Gandum, you are taking part in a bigger story - that of regenerating, connecting and inspiring. We want to share this journey with you and show that every choice counts.
Discover how Gandum is more than a stay - it's a space where comfort and purpose meet.
RESERVE NOW
Team
At Gandum Village, we believe that it's the people who make the difference. Our team combines talent, experience and a shared passion for creating unique moments. Get to know who is behind everything we do:
Founders and Directors
João Almeida and Martina Wiedemar
João and Martina are the visionaries behind Gandum Village. Combining their experiences and passions, they have created a sustainable and welcoming space, leading the project with determination and creativity.
Operations and Accommodation Management
Patrícia Pereira - Resident Manager
Patrícia is the logistical heart of Gandum. Responsible for coordinating the operation on the ground and liaising with the external management team, she ensures that everything runs smoothly, rigorously and with human care.
Reception
Constança Tenreiro, Mariana Correia and Melissa Pereira
Attentive, informed and always available, they welcome you to Gandum with a smile and all the answers. Your comfort starts here.
Housekeeping
Amélia Banha, Paula Ramalho, Custódia Trigueirão and Manuela Malarranha (Housekeeper)
They ensure cleanliness and organization with precision and care. Manuela, who recently joined as a housekeeper, ensures standards of excellence and a good atmosphere in the team.
Kitchen
Miguel Araújo (Executive Chef)
Born in Viana do Castelo, Miguel Araújo brings to Gandum a creative vision of Portuguese gastronomy - with solid foundations, absolute respect for ingredients and a contemporary language. He was chef at the Ofício restaurant in Lisbon and has worked in leading kitchens in cities such as Barcelona.
His leadership inspires the team made up of Nélio Pedrosa, Tânia Chaves and Catarina Projecta, with whom he develops a seasonal, local and tasty menu.
Living room
Miriam Charrua, João Simão and Rui Rebelo da Silva
They accompany you to the table with attention and good humor. Miriam, originally from Montemor, brings with her the care she learned at Areias do Seixo. João and Rui complete the team with their sensitivity and dedication to the art of hospitality.
Maintenance
Wellington and Marcelo Arimateia
Father and son, from Brazil, take care of the invisible but essential side: all of Gandum's technical infrastructure. Marcelo will accompany us until the end of the summer, finalizing the last details of the construction phase.
Field
Jerónimo Banha
Connected to the land like few others, Jerónimo keeps Gandum's landscape, paths and agroforestry alive. He is one of the project's oldest and most deeply-rooted presences.
At Gandum Village, each member of the team contributes their talent and dedication to creating a unique and welcoming environment. Together, we work to make your experience with us unforgettable.
VISION
Finding and sharing practical and accessible solutions to sustainability challenges, thus building the village we need to create a better future.
MISSION
Starting from a place where all decisions have sustainability at their core, Gandum's mission is to inspire families, teams and communities to create a better world. With a rural hotel, workspaces, restaurants and bars, a regenerative farm, and a diverse offer of courses, workshops and events, it creates a place of experimentation for the "village of the future", bringing a new meaning to tourism and a new impetus to our lives.
FOR WHOM?
A place for locals and travelers. For dreamers and doers. For parents and children. For friends. For genuinely creative people who make, think, love and share. Moved by positive ideas. United by a common future.
WHY?
Because sustainability is an opportunity.
We see sustainability as an opportunity, not a problem, and we put it into practice in everything we do: from the food we produce, to the workshops we offer, to the architecture and energy in our spaces.
Because there is a new type of public (and they need a place to stay).
Whether it's for companies looking for a more relaxed place to work and provide moments of team bonding, families looking for a vacation out of the ordinary or creatives in search of inspiration, Gandum is the place for people looking for a meaningful experience.
Because rural tourism can (and should) be more.
We want to bring a new spirit to the hospitality sector, with a cultural offer and a purpose, which seeks solutions to everyday challenges and those of the future, which is inspiring and creative, of innovation, experimentation and learning, seen as a new form of entertainment.
Because Gandum brings together the best of the countryside and the city.
We want to combine the useful with the pleasant. That's why we bring the best design, quality of service, comfort and fun typical of big cities and combine them with the uncompromising beauty, honesty, closeness and peace of mind of the countryside.
Because the Alentejo is a world (and has a lot to offer).
Just 60 minutes from Lisbon, Montemor-o-Novo has an attractive potential with plenty of room to grow. So close, yet far enough away to disconnect from all that is superfluous, it is the ideal refuge to spend a day, or several, and focus on what really matters.
Our History
In the heart of Montemor-o-Novo, Gandum Village was born out of a dream shared by two people who believe in the power of sustainability and the strength of community. João Almeida, with a degree in Sustainable Development from the University of Basel and experience at Foodways Consulting, and Martina Wiedemar, a geographer with a degree from the University of Bern and a climate change researcher, decided to turn theory into practice.
Gandum isn't just a hotel or restaurant - it's a reflection of their life experiences and their desire to create a space that respects nature while welcoming people from all corners of the world. Here, every detail has been thought out to show that it is possible to live in a regenerative way, combining comfort, design and a sustainable vision.
The idea began to take shape when João and Martina arrived in Montemor-o-Novo and fell in love with the region. Inspired by the landscapes, the rhythm of rural life and the cultural richness of the local community, they decided to create something that was more than a destination - an example of how sustainability can be accessible and improve quality of life.
Over time, they assembled an extraordinary team, made up of people with unique talents and inspiring stories. Each member brought something special to the project, from the excellent gastronomy led by chefs such as Gudo Martins and Ivo Tavares, to the care taken by local professionals, deeply connected to the land and Alentejo culture.
Today, Gandum Village is a place where relaxation, authentic experiences and a clear vision come together: to live in harmony with the planet and inspire others to do the same. It's a project in constant evolution, but always with the same purpose: to create impact, bring people together and celebrate the best that life has to offer.
Here, every moment tells a story. And we want yours to be part of it.
book
Manifesto
Preparing for the future with our feet in the present.
At Gandum, we believe that the world can be different - and that you are part of that change. Here, we're not just a place to stay. We are an invitation to rethink, reinvent and live life in a way that makes sense, for you and for the planet.
We are made of earth, but we dream of the stars. We build with carbon-neutral materials, return to the earth everything we don't use and produce all the energy we consume. We are truly circular, because nature doesn't waste and neither do we. We want to be more than an example: we want to be the spark that inspires a more beautiful, simple and humane future.
That's why we created Gandum. A place where we make space and create time. For everything.
1 // TO REINVENT THE PRESENT and plot the future
We believe that life can be lighter, more beautiful and more accessible. We want you to find a rhythm here that gives you back what the rush of everyday life robs you of: clear thoughts, true feelings, boundless creativity. A place for life-changing decisions, without haste, but with purpose.
2 // FOR EVERYONE
Gandum is for you, whoever you are. For curious travelers, families in search of quality time, creatives looking for inspiration, entrepreneurs imagining the future, friends celebrating life, or for those who just want to stop, breathe and simply be. Here, everyone fits and everyone matters.
3 // FOR THE FIRST FEW TIMES
There's a charm in what we've never done before. At Gandum, there's room for all kinds of firsts: writing that book you've been meaning to start for years, inventing a recipe, creating a project, starting a hobby, building something with your own hands, or just enjoying silence for the first time.
4 // FOR MEMORIES THAT ARE NOT MEASURED
Whether it's building a table or structuring a business, enjoying a meal or planting what you eat, chatting with those you love or finding new ideas, here memories are what make life worth living. We want you to take with you moments that can't be found in photographs, but that live on in you.
5 // FOR A BETTER FUTURE
We're not a hotel. We are a laboratory of possibilities. A place where better versions of life are designed - be it a family trip, a company retreat, a break for yourself, an open discussion or a workshop that awakens something new.