Béjar Forest started out as the Duke’s family hunting ground. Don Francisco de Zúñiga y Sotomayor, the IV Duke of Béjar, initiated the main construction work in 1567.

The site was divided up into terraces based on a decidedly Renaissance design. Axial development provided visual connection between Béjar Forest and the ducal palace, in the characteristic style of the 16th-century open garden concept. The residential area, dam and reservoir, plus several fountains and ornamental objects, date back to that period.

The essence of this original plan was retained throughout the centuries, even when additional elements, such as the imposing Sábana baroque fountain, were added in different eras.

In 1869, the industrialist Cipriano Rodríguez-Arias purchased the villa and updated the garden to the romantic style of the period. He brought in exotic species of trees (conifers, in particular), added fountains, replaced the stone gazebo in the pond with a Moorish Revival one, and built the stables and chapel.

In 1999, Béjar Forest was bought by the autonomous government of Castilla y León and Béjar local council, and a substantial process of analysis and restoration ensued. Since 2019, additional support was provided by Interreg Europe through the JARCULTUR project. Mata do Bussaco historical garden in Portugal is also part of the project and the two sites share aesthetic features and conservation and dissemination goals.