National Hunting Park of Mafra

Tapada Nacional de Mafra (listed in English as the National Hunting Park of Mafra) is a walled forest reserve in Mafra, northwest of Lisbon. Once the royal hunting ground, it now works as a nature park open to visitors, with walking and cycling routes, free-roaming wildlife and falconry displays.

What is the Tapada and where does it come from?

The estate dates to the reign of King John V. A decree signed on 18 July 1744 authorised the purchase of land for royal hunting grounds beside the Mafra Palace-Convent. The forest was also meant to supply the convent with firewood and water. A stone-and-lime wall about 21 km long encloses it, and you can still follow its line today.

In 1941 an area of roughly 833 hectares was designated as forest land. Since 1998 a public-interest cooperative has run the park. Published figures for its size vary: historic sources cite around 1,200 hectares, modern ones just over 800. In 2019 the Tapada became part of the Royal Building of Mafra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What will you see?

Woodland alternates with open clearings. Deer, fallow deer, wild boar, foxes and birds of prey live here, and one source counts more than 370 species. The animals roam freely, so a visit feels closer to a forest walk than a trip to a zoo.

Options include:

• walking the marked trails,
• cycling,
• horse-drawn carriage rides,
• falconry displays and workshops,
• a tourist train on weekends and public holidays, booked in advance.

How should you plan a visit?

The park sits right beside Mafra town, so it pairs easily with a visit to the palace and convent. It is open all year. Falconry, carriage rides and the train need advance booking, so check current offers and hours at tapadademafra.pt. Bring comfortable shoes and water: the grounds are large and the routes run through forest.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Tapada the same as Mafra Palace? No. It is a separate forest area, but historically tied to the palace as its hunting ground and supply base.

How big is it? Today it is usually given as over 800 hectares (833 ha under the 1941 designation). The wall runs about 21 km.

What animals can you meet? Deer, fallow deer, wild boar, foxes and birds of prey.

Do you need to book? A simple walk takes little planning, but falconry shows, carriage rides and the tourist train are booked ahead.