Gardens in Portugal

   
Casa Mateus 5091 Portugal Garden of the Casa Mateus, just outside Vila Real in northern Portugal
Jardim do Paço, Castelo Branco 0903_029 Portugal Orange trees surround the 'Flooded Garden' at Jardim do Paço, Castelo Branco
Jardim do Paço, Castelo Branco 0903_10 Portugal Garden of the Bishop's Palace.
Jardim do Paço, Castelo Branco 0903_002 Portugal This is the raised tank of the Crown Pool, at the centre of this famous garden. It contains three fountains, formed from twisted stone columns topped by stone crowns. The pool is surrounded by orange trees, which have been a vital element of the Portuguese garden ever since the Muslim settlers made medieval, Islamic gardens across the Iberian peninsula. The Portuguese are sometimes credited with bringing the first sweet oranges to Europe from India or the Far East.
Jardim do Paço, Castelo Branco 0903_003 Portugal 'Jardim alagado', or flooded garden, a reference to the narrow curlicue beds that emerge from the water. When I visited in March they were filled with narcissus and pink bergenias.
Palacio Nacional de Sintra 4508 Portugal The garden of the national palace at Sintra, near Lisbon, looking up towards the Moorish castle
Convento de Cristo, Tomar 107 Portugal Almond blossom in front of the Convent of Christ, originally a Templar stronghold built in the 12th century
Jardim Regaleira 4436 Portugal Font at the Jardim Regaleira, Sintra, near Lisbon
Jardim Regaleira 4449 Portugal Tower at the Regaleira garden, Sintra, near Lisbon
Jardim Botânico da Ajuda 29/11/2010 Portugal 2010 This is the oldest botanical garden in the country, laid out on two levels in 1768 as part of Ajuda Palace. There are lovely views down to Belem and the river Tagus.
Barcelos 1397 Portugal Public gardens in the old town of Barcelos, northern Portugal
rdins do Palácio de Cristal 8847 Portugal 2010 Crystal Palace Gardens, Porto, overlooking the Douro River.
Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, Porto (1 of 2) 8834 Portugal 2010 This beautifully landscaped park is dominated by a huge domed pavilion surrounded by a lake, flowerbeds, and roaming peacocks.
Guimarães 1247 Portugal Fountain at the Largo Martins Sarmento in Guimarães
Buçaco 8510 Portugal View of the parterre from the pergola
Buçaco 8578 Portugal The formal box parterre at Buçaco (Bussaco)
Buçaco 8594 Portugal Dahlias at Buçaco
Buçaco 8624 Portugal Fountain at Buçaco
Queluz 1114 Portugal Part of the herb garden at the Palace of Queluz - a quiet and lesser known corner of the garden. The old azuleijos are faded and chipped, but the garden has real charm.
Queluz 1155 Portugal The 'Malta garden' at the Palace of Queluz
Queluz 1135 Portugal 2010 Part of the Jardim Pênsil, or Neptune Garden, at the royal national Palace of Queluz on the outskirts of Lisbon
   
Garden of the Casa Mateus, just outside Vila Real in northern Portugal Orange trees surround the 'Flooded Garden' at Jardim do Paço, Castelo Branco Garden of the Bishop's Palace. This is the raised tank of the Crown Pool, at the centre of this famous garden. It contains three fountains, formed from twisted stone columns topped by stone crowns. The pool is surrounded by orange trees, which have been a vital element of the Portuguese garden ever since the Muslim settlers made medieval, Islamic gardens across the Iberian peninsula. The Portuguese are sometimes credited with bringing the first sweet oranges to Europe from India or the Far East. 'Jardim alagado', or flooded garden, a reference to the narrow curlicue beds that emerge from the water. When I visited in March they were filled with narcissus and pink bergenias. The garden of the national palace at Sintra, near Lisbon, looking up towards the Moorish castle Almond blossom in front of the Convent of Christ, originally a Templar stronghold built in the 12th century Font at the Jardim Regaleira, Sintra, near Lisbon Tower at the Regaleira garden, Sintra, near Lisbon This is the oldest botanical garden in the country, laid out on two levels in 1768 as part of Ajuda Palace. There are lovely views down to Belem and the river Tagus. Public gardens in the old town of Barcelos, northern Portugal Crystal Palace Gardens, Porto, overlooking the Douro River. This beautifully landscaped park is dominated by a huge domed pavilion surrounded by a lake, flowerbeds, and roaming peacocks. Fountain at the Largo Martins Sarmento in Guimarães View of the parterre from the pergola The formal box parterre at Buçaco (Bussaco) Dahlias at Buçaco Fountain at Buçaco Part of the herb garden at the Palace of Queluz - a quiet and lesser known corner of the garden. The old azuleijos are faded and chipped, but the garden has real charm. The 'Malta garden' at the Palace of Queluz Part of the Jardim Pênsil, or Neptune Garden, at the royal national Palace of Queluz on the outskirts of Lisbon

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Portugal

Portuguese gardens were built predominantly during the country’s two ‘golden ages’ in the 16th and 18th centuries, which were times of economic and colonial achievement. During the 19th century Portugal was invaded three times by the French, and the entire royal court fled to Brazil; no gardens were made during the French occupation. There was a slight revival of interest at the end of the civil war in 1834, when the new liberal aristocracy returned from their exile abroad, bringing with them novel ideas about the landscape style of gardening. By this time the country was scattered with empty convents and monasteries, which were sometimes bought by private owners who renovated or rebuilt the gardens in their grounds.

Portugal’s gardens benefit from the Atlantic climate: temperatures can reach 40 degrees at the height of summer, but annual rainfall is high and there are also many natural springs. Abundant water and a mild climate create ideal conditions for citrus.

The gardens featured in this gallery are all located in the northern half of the country: from one of the world’s first botanical gardens, in Lisbon, to the magnificent garden of Braga’s Biscainhos Palace, in the Minho region. Please return to the site over the coming months to watch the gallery grow.

For those with an interest, Helena Attlee’s book ‘The Gardens of Portugal’ (publ. Frances Lincoln) provides a wealth of further information and is well worth a read.