Bussaco Palace
A former convent in the Bussaco mountain range, in the municipality of Mealhada in central Portugal. It is now a luxury hotel and a national monument, standing inside a walled forest of old trees.
- Where
- Mealhada, Coimbra, Portugal
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 40.3768, -8.3651
Get the Bussaco Palace stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Bussaco Palace. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Coimbra volume with your photos and a note.
Near Bussaco Palace
Old Cathedral of Coimbra 19 km
A fortress like Romanesque cathedral in Coimbra, begun in the 12th century after the Battle of Ourique. It is one of the best preserved Romanesque churches in Portugal. Its crenellated walls and small cloister make it feel like a fortress, and it stands near the old town's steep lanes.
University of Coimbra Alta and Sofia 19 km
The hilltop university of Coimbra, one of the oldest in Europe, first chartered in 1290 and based here since 1537. The Joanina Library, the chapel and the tower of the old royal palace form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Biblioteca Joanina 20 km
A Baroque library inside the University of Coimbra, built in the early 18th century under King John V. Its gilded and painted halls hold thousands of old books, and a colony of bats is kept to protect them from insects.
Portugal dos Pequenitos 20 km
A miniature park in Coimbra, in the parish of Santa Clara e Castelo Viegas. It holds small scale versions of Portuguese houses and monuments, along with pavilions, and is built at a size that suits children.
Quinta das Lagrimas 21 km
A historic estate in Coimbra with 12 hectares of gardens and a palace that is now a luxury hotel. It was classified in 1977 as a property of public interest, and the gardens are open to walk through.
Serra da Estrela 64 km
The highest mountain range in mainland Portugal, with its top reaching almost 2,000 metres. It has glacial valleys, granite plateaus and is the home of the famous Serra cheese. In winter it is the only place in mainland Portugal where people regularly ski.
Convent of Christ 86 km
A former Templar fortress and convent on a hill above Tomar, begun in the 12th century and later the seat of the Order of Christ. Its round Templar church and the ornate Manueline window make it a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sanctuary of Fátima 87 km
A Catholic pilgrimage site where three shepherd children reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1917. Millions of pilgrims visit the large esplanade and basilicas each year, especially on the 13th of May and October.
More hidden gems in Coimbra
Questions
Where is Bussaco Palace?
Bussaco Palace is in Mealhada, Coimbra, Portugal. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Old Cathedral of Coimbra (19 km), University of Coimbra Alta and Sofia (19 km), Biblioteca Joanina (20 km).
How do I get the Bussaco Palace stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Bussaco Palace and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Coimbra volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Bussaco Palace before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Coimbra volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 40 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.