Gardens in 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.

Helena Attlee's book 'The Gardens of Portugal' provides a wealth of further information.

Tomar, Portugal. In order to establish an easy cohabitation between the town and the convent of the Knights Templar, the castle was built in three distinct walled enclosures, surrounded by an extensive outer wall. The largest enclosure, which faced southwards, was the walled town, whose gateway overlooked the area known as Sete Montes. In the sixteenth century, the town was emptied of its inhabitants and transformed into kitchen gardens and orchards for the monks of the Order of Christ. In recent times, the vegetable gardens have been replaced by the Parque do Laranjal, where, amidst footpaths, walls and terraces, the visitor can find evidence of the old town in the stones of the doorways and windows that have been preserved by time.