Enclosed park of Convento de Cristo

The Enclosed Park of Convento de Cristo (Cerca do Convento de Cristo, also the Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes) is a wooded area of about 39 hectares in Tomar, wrapping around the Templar Castle walls and the Convent of Christ. The Order of Christ once used it for orchards, cultivation and quiet retreat; today it is the largest green space in the city.

What is the Mata dos Sete Montes?

The park sits between the convent and the town centre. Its older name, "the Place of the Seven Hills", refers to the massif of seven hills it covers. The first records of green spaces around the convent date to 1490. In the 16th century, under King John III, neighbouring properties were bought up so the monks could wall in a large area for prayer, farming and seclusion.

After the religious orders were dissolved the land was sold off. It returned to the state in 1936 and became a forest park in 1938. In 1986 it was placed under the national parks and nature conservation service, hence the official title of national woodland. The whole convent estate covers around 45 hectares, of which 39 are this enclosure.

What can you see here?

• Vegetation. Mixed woodland of cypress, centuries-old olive trees, maritime and stone pines and oaks, plus French-style box hedge gardens.
• The Charolinha. A small circular stone structure ringed by a round water basin and reached over a stone bridge. It follows plans by João de Castilho, the architect of the convent's Renaissance works. Sources describe it either as a replica of the convent's lantern towers or as an echo of the Holy Sepulchre.
• Views of the convent and castle. The walls of the Templar Castle and the convent, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, appear between the trees.

How do you get there, and when should you go?

The park adjoins the convent on Praça do Infante D. Henrique, so it pairs easily with a castle visit. From central Tomar it is a walk uphill towards the castle. The woods suit any season, but spring and autumn are the most comfortable, when the shade is not needed against heat.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the park? About 39 hectares, most of the whole convent estate.

Does it still belong to the convent? It was originally the convent's walled grounds; today it is a state-owned national woodland.

What is the Charolinha? A circular stone building with a water basin and a bridge, built to a plan by João de Castilho.

Should I combine it with the convent visit? Yes. The two sit side by side, and the park shows how the monks used the land around their convent.