Mata Nacional Dos Sete Montes

The Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes, the National Forest of the Seven Hills, is a walled woodland of around 39 hectares that rises behind the Convent of Christ in Tomar. It forms the green backdrop to one of the great historic monuments of Portugal, and it is a place where locals walk, jog and relax, within a few minutes of the town centre. Its name refers to the seven hills that make up the landscape, and the tradition says that they recall the seven hills of Jerusalem, a fitting idea for the home of a crusading order.

The forest was created in the 16th century as part of the Convent of Christ, the seat of the Order of Christ, which inherited the property and the mission of the Knights Templar after the suppression of the Templars in 1312. The convent was one of the richest and most powerful institutions in Portugal, and at the height of its influence, the order financed voyages of discovery, with Prince Henry the Navigator as its governor. The woodland served the monks as a place of seclusion, meditation and production, with orchards, vegetable plots, springs and paths, all enclosed by a stone wall. The layout of avenues and pathways reflects the ideas of the Renaissance and the religious character of the site.

Today, the forest is a mixture of old trees and formal elements. Cypresses, oaks, olive trees and Judas trees grow beside the paths, some of them centuries old, and there are shady avenues and clearings with benches. A network of trails climbs the hills, giving views toward the convent, the town and the valley of the Nabão river. The most curious feature is the Charolinha, a small circular stone pavilion, a miniature version of the Charola, the Templars' round church inside the convent. It stands in the middle of a circular water tank, reached by a little stone bridge, and it is an attractive spot for a pause. Springs and fountains scattered around the woods add to the atmosphere.

Practical points: the forest is next to the convent, close to the Praça do Infante Dom Henrique, and the entrance is easy to find. Some paths are accessible to people with reduced mobility, though others are steep and uneven, so wear comfortable shoes. Opening times and entry arrangements change, so check locally. A walk takes an hour or two, depending on the route.

Tomar is a good town for a full day. The Convent of Christ, a World Heritage site with its famous round church and Manueline window, is the main sight, and the old town has a 15th-century synagogue, now a museum, and a pleasant riverside with gardens. The Festival of the Trays, held every few years in July, fills the streets with processions. The woodland suits walkers, families and anyone who wants a restful interlude among historic surroundings.