The Charming Forest

The Enchanted Forest is a popular place, which in Portuguese is called "Mata do Buçaco". Located in central Portugal, it's just 2 kilometres from the spa town of Luso. This large natural park is part of the stunning hilltop Buçaco Palace , which is now a five-star hotel. The forest is noted for its variety of trees, both indigenous and foreign, like cedars, firs, rhododendrons, acacias, and even redwoods from America and Australia. There are also many giant ferns in a large valley called "Vale dos Feitos", as well as fountains and a small lake with ducks and swans.

Buçaco Forest is in the mountains of the same name in the concelho Mealhada, specifically in the parish of Luso. It has a great history. In the 6th century, the Benedictine order founded a monastery there. Later, in the 17th century, the Order of the Shoeless Carmelites came and closed the entire forested area with a wall, so that the only access to the outside world was through three gates that remain today and which are called Rainha, Coimbra and Sula, which is the most beautiful and outstanding. The monks who lived in this area began guarding the forest and planted all kinds of plants and trees, including tropical and exotic plants.