National Hunting Park of Mafra, Royal hunting park in Mafra, Portugal.
The National Hunting Park of Mafra is an expansive property made up of forests, meadows, and cultivated areas that support a range of wild animals. The grounds are crossed by marked trails and scattered with hunting pavilions that reflect the royal use of this land centuries ago.
King John V of Portugal created this park in the 18th century as a dedicated hunting ground for the nobility and royal family. The establishment of this land reflected the king's broader vision to develop the entire Mafra complex as a symbol of royal power and leisure.
The park remains tied to the larger Royal Building complex of Mafra, which includes a palace, basilica, and monastery built during the same period. Visitors can observe the hunting pavilions scattered across the grounds, which reflect how nobility and the royal family once spent their leisure time here.
Visitors can walk along marked trails to explore the grounds and observe wild deer and boar in their natural setting. Early morning and late afternoon visits offer better chances of spotting animals, as they are more active during these quieter times of day.
The original stone walls and hunting pavilions still stand today, showing the authentic layout of the royal hunting ground as it was centuries ago. These structures reveal how the royal court organized its hunting expeditions and what facilities were needed to support these activities.
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