Béjar Forest (Bosque de Béjar) is one of the Iberian Peninsula’s best preserved Renaissance-style suburban country estates.

The estate was developed by Don Francisco de Zúñiga y Sotomayor, the IV Duke of Béjar, in collaboration with leading architects of the time, such as Pedro Marquina, and its history dates back over four hundred years. Nonetheless, we are able to continue to enjoy it today almost entirely intact.

The singular and bespoke site comprises forests, meadows, orchards, gardens, a promenade, a pond and fountains. In short, this Renaissance-style garden is a means of understanding the world and humankind’s relationship with nature. It is located in the mountains, but in close proximity to the city. The local area was whimsically developed for financial gain or for artistic expression.

From Béjar Forest, the owners were able to keep a close eye on development in the city while hiding away amidst the abundant vegetation behind the boundary walls.

The site was listed as an Artistic Garden in 1946 and as a Monument of Cultural Interest within the Historical Garden category in 1982. It was awarded protection status in 1995. In 2000, a master plan including a framework for all future interventions was drawn up.