| The Convent of Christ Enclosure, also known as “Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes” (“Seven Hills National Woodland”) since 1986, is the main park of Tomar. At the 9 hectares of forest and gardens, one can walk amidst the pine trees, oaks, Judas-trees, cypresses and olive-trees that inhabit the lung of the city.
The first documents mentioning the existence of green spaces surrounding the Convent of Christ date back to 1490. However, the space of the Enclosure, which originally matched the walls of the Templar Castle, was only arranged in the 16th century. It was then created a closed green space of great dimensions which allowed the monks to pray in communion with nature, as well as to devote themselves to farming. The original planimetry and the cinquecentist structure remain the same until today, preserving the location’s intimacy and its self-communion character. Discover among nature the “Gruta de Sangue” (“Blood Cave”) the “Charolinha” – a round “casa de fresco” similar to the lantern towers of the convent –, a playground and the picnic areas. |
Address:Mata dos Sete Montes, 2300 Tomar GPS coordinates: 39°36'04.8"N / 8°24'59.0"W
Opening hours:Winter – 9:00 to 17:30 Summer – 9:00 to 18:30 |
