The Stables at Pena Farm

This area of the park was transformed since 1843 by King Ferdinand II, with the assistance of the Baron von Eschwege, in the “Ferme Ornée” style (ornamental farm), where the agricultural and scenic functions provided pleasant country walks and carriage drives framed by the romantic arboretum.

As part of the Pena Farm, the original function of the Stables was to support the agricultural activities, serving to house livestock and as a barn. Having been damaged by a fire in 1999, it was completely restored in 2013. Today, it houses the management services of the Pena Farm and projects undertaken there. At Pena Farm, the original concept of “ornamental farm” has now been restored, creating a country refuge in the middle of the Park of Pena which makes it possible to stroll in the midst of vegetable gardens, pens with farm animals and a meadow with rest and picnic areas.

Among the activities available in the Pena Farm, the Equestrian Tourism programme allows horse riding to be combined with exploring the natural and cultural heritage of the Park of Pena. Aided by trail guides, there are circuits of varying lengths covering different areas of the park. Children can also take part in the equestrian activities, riding a pony under the supervision of an instructor.

Cart tours in the Park of Pena provide a trip back in time on the route between the Valley of Lakes and the Chalet of the Countess of Edla, passing through the Pena Farm and the Garden of the Countess of Edla. This tour can be taken unaccompanied or with an expert guide, who can help visitors discover the history of the park and its creators, the plant and animal species seen during the tour, as well as the historic buildings and garden areas found along the way.

To recover some of the socio-cultural heritage which had been lost in the Sintra hills and in Portugal, Parques de Sintra has reintroduced traditional environmentally sustainable forest management techniques using draught horses. The horses have been selected from the agile Ardennais breed, which are known for their strength and docile nature and have been trained for forestry work, responding to monosyllable voice commands and driven with only one rein. Free from noise and air pollution, and independent of fossil fuels, this practice means that work can be carried out in hard-to-reach places with reduced environmental impact, ensuring soil conservation and preserving the natural regeneration of woodland. The horses can also be harnessed, used for agriculture, waste collection, clearing roads and paths, and educational and recreational activities in the parks.