Buddha Eden Park

In the countryside of the Oeste, between Óbidos and Peniche, an estate garden opens onto a surprising world: hundreds of Buddha statues in golden bronze and marble, pagodas, a lake of koi carp and a terracotta army of seven hundred hand-painted soldiers. The Bacalhôa Buddha Eden is the largest oriental garden in Europe.

A garden answered to destruction

The garden was created from 2001 by the collector José Berardo as a response to the destruction of the giant Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan — a monument of peace planted in the vineyards of Quinta dos Loridos. Across some 35 hectares, more than six thousand tons of marble and granite have been placed among the trees: Buddhas, lanterns, pagodas and dragons rising from the water, with a 21-metre Buddha presiding over the central staircase. There is a vineyard, a shop for the estate’s wines, and space for a slow, quiet afternoon — an unexpected, rewarding stop that pairs naturally with the medieval walls of Óbidos and the surf coast of Peniche.

What to see

• The golden Buddhas of the central staircase
• The koi lake with its sculpted dragons
• The seven-hundred terracotta soldiers
• Pagodas and the African art pieces
• The vineyard and the estate wine shop

Practical information

Buddha Eden lies at Quinta dos Loridos, Bombarral, ten minutes from Óbidos and half an hour from Peniche. It is open daily, with shorter winter hours; entry is paid, with reductions for children, and there is a restaurant on site. The paths are gentle but extensive — allow two to three hours.

Image credit: Buddha Eden by Carlos Luis M C da Cruz — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.