Garden of the Episcopal Palace

Royal Gardens of Castelo Branco

In the centre of the country, close to the Spanish border, the district capital of Castelo Branco is home to one of the country's hidden gems: the Episcopal Garden of Paço. Between the vegetation and the baroque statues, it is a romantic place, ideal for a visit for two, or for a family outing. Baroque enthusiasts will also be delighted, as there are several examples of statues in this style, especially in terms of their symbolic aspects and the arrangement of their elements in thematic paths.

Description and History of the Garden

It is a garden organised according to a formal scheme, in which saints and apostles - represented by statues - line up in the hedges, while lakes reflect the stone lions, and monarchs watch over the balustrades. The Spanish monarchs who ruled between 1580 and 1640 appear, interestingly, in smaller statues. The figures represented in the statues include the New Man, the four cardinal virtues, the three theological virtues, the signs of the zodiac, the parts of the world, the four seasons, fire and hunting. The garden is laid out in a rectangular shape, where there are balconies and verandas with iron railings and stone balusters. There are five lakes, with elaborate borders and water features.

But the garden of the bishop's palace is not only composed of statues. The walls that border it have panels of figurative tiles, in blue on a white background, depicting various places in Castelo Branco, from the old farmhouse and wood to the chapel of São João and its cross. There are also rectilinear tiles showing the drawings of Castelo Branco made by Duarte de Armas in the 16th century, as well as the representation of the bishop D. João de Mendonça.

The construction of the garden of the Episcopal Palace dates back to the 18th century, starting under the orders of the Bishop of Guarda, D. João de Mendonça, since later, in the last years of that same century, the second Bishop of the Diocese of Castelo Branco, D. Vicente Ferrer da Rocha, was responsible for carrying out some of the relevant work in the garden. Later, in 1911, the garden passed into the hands of the City Council, through a lease, with the municipality eventually acquiring it in its entirety in 1919.

Practical information

Opening hours of the Episcopal Palace Garden

The garden of the Bishop's Palace is open to the public from April to September, from 9 am to 7 pm, and from October to March, from 9 am to 5 pm. It is also possible to visit the garden free of charge on the first Sunday of each month.

Entrance fee

- Under 11 years old : Free

- Single entry (11 to 64 years old): €2

- Senior citizens: €1

- Group (12 people or more): €1

The city of Castelo Branco

But a visit to the Episcopal Garden of Paço cannot be complete without a visit to the city that gives its name to the Castelo Branco district. With direct rail links to Lisbon, Entroncamento, Covilhã and Guarda, and served by the A23 motorway, the capital of the Castelo Branco district makes for a pleasant day's sightseeing, where a visit to the city's castle and cathedral, as well as, if possible, the Castelo Branco contemporary culture centre, are also a must.