Janeiro de Cima is in the municipality of Fundão (40km), in a flat zone on the left bank of the Zêzere, where the north-east slope of the Serra da Gardunha mountain range ends.

Its proximity to the Zêzere  is one of the major attractions of Janeiro de Cima.
It is the river that has always ensured the survival of the village, providing water for irrigating the fields and powering the mills. Furthermore, some gold flakes were discovered in the river bed and along the banks, prompting gold mining.

Nowadays, the river plays an important role as a leisure zone. The Meandros do Zêzere(meanders of the Zêzere) Geomonument is in the vicinity of the village, within the Naturtejo Geopark.

The earliest cartographic representation of Janeiro de Cima is from 1600, attesting to its existence in the 15th century.

Certain construction features of the  Old Church  and some of the religious images it contains seem to confirm this. Three private buildings in the village, attributable to the 17th and 18th centuries, bear witness to the importance of the village in this era.

Origin of the name
Legend has it that in the 16th or 17th century there was a large landowner who had two sons, both named Januário. He decided to divide his possessions between them, with everything to the right of the river going to one son and everything to the left going to the other. This situation is said to have given rise to the name Janeiro being applied to both villages.

Legend of St. Sebastian and the Festa do Bodo (a festival where food is shared with the poor)
Legend says that in the mid 18th century St. Sebastian saved the inhabitants of Janeiro de Cima from a serious epidemic. Since then, the Festa do Bodo is celebrated every year in thanksgiving. This is a Festival where food is shared with the poor

In Janeiro de Cima, uniquely, the architecture in schist includes round, white stones from the bed of the Zêzere river.

The first houses in the village grew up around the Old Church  from where a complex of narrow streets with their own unique character snake out organically, interlinking with passageways and side streets, courtyards and alleyways, in a medieval structure of great historical value.

Also worth a visit:

• Casa das Tecedeiras (Weavers’ House)
• Chapel of São Sebastião
• Private buildings from the 17th-18th century
• Old Church
• Janeiro Water wheel
• Giant Loom
• The Ferry
• Passage and alleyways
• New Church
  Modern church (20th century) built in what was then the outskirts of the village, when the Old Church could no longer hold all those wishing to attend religious ceremonies.

• Primary school
  Yet another educational establishment of this national type made up of hundreds of schoolhouses, built under the Estado Novo’s so-called "Centenaries Plan" in so many other villages around the country in accordance with base projects previously established for each region.

• Chapel of Divino Espírito Santo
  Probably founded in the 16th century, which would be when the image of its patron saint, the Holy Spirit, was made. In 1758 – in the Parish Memoirs written by village curate, José Pereira – the chapel is mentioned as being outside the village, at a distance of five or six musket shots. It was completely rebuilt in 1994. It has a longitudinal plan consisting of the nave and a narrower chancel with an open porch. The interior boasts a pointed triumphal arch in rendered and painted granite. The chancel, one step above the nave, has a concave altarpiece divided into three by columns with late Baroque carved gilt and painted stems and fake marble. It has a niche with a background painted in polychrome flowers and moulding featuring plant and shell motifs.

• Chapel of Nª Srª das Necessidades
  En route to the Chapel of S. Sebastião.

• Balconies
  There are a significant number of balconies in the village testifying to an original use of the upper floor for residential purposes, while the ground floor housed animals and agricultural implements.

• Hortícolas
• Azeitona e azeite
• Produtos da Casa das Tecedeiras

De Norte
Na A1 sair em Coimbra (saída 12). Passe Coimbra, tome a N17 (Estrada da Beira) em direção à Guarda e saia na N236 no sentido da Lousã. Ao chegar à Lousã continue na direção de Góis, pela EN342. Após 15 km, ainda antes de Góis, na rotunda do Cimo do Alvém (Portela de Góis), cortar à direita para a N2 na direção de Pampilhosa da Serra durante 13 km. Continue então pela N112 passando a Pampilhosa da Serra ao fim de 22 km. Continue pela N112 em direção ao Fundão mas vire à esquerda para Janeiro de Baixo, após 10km, seguindo agora pela N344. Passados 2km corte à direita para Janeiro de Baixo, pela N546. Após 6km, em Janeiro de Baixo, vire à esquerda para Janeiro de Cima. Após 3,7 km chegará a Janeiro de Cima.

De Sul
Na A1 saia para Abrantes/castelo Branco (saída 7 – A23). Seguir pela A23 até à Saída 23 (Castelo Branco Norte). Seguir na N112 na direção de Pampilhosa da Serra durante 44 km. Ao chegar ao Orvalho, na rotunda, vire na segunda à direita em direção ao Fundão. Seguir pela N238 durante 5km, virando então à esquerda na direção de Urgueiro e Janeiro de Baixo. Siga cerca de 5,5 km e estará em Janeiro de Cima.

De Espanha
Na A23 sair em direção a Fundão-Sul. No Fundão seguir pela N238 durante 40km, até cortar à direita para Janeiro de Cima (EM518). Após 3,5km chegará a Janeiro de Cima.