Quinta das Lágrimas
Presentation
Antiga Quinta do Pombal, a farm, first mentioned in the 14th century. Queen Santa Isabel requested that a canal be built to carry water from two springs from the farm to the Monastery of Santa Clara.
One of the springs became known as “Fonte dos Amores” (Fountain of Love) and the canal as “Cano dos Amores” (Channel of Love), because, according to legend, it carried the love letters exchanged between D. Pedro (grandson of Queen Santa Isabel) and D. Inês de Castro.
The other spring is called “Fonte das Lágrimas” (Fountain of Tears), where, according to legend, the tears that Inês cried before being quartered spring from the fountain, the result of a poetic construction begun by Luís Vaz de Camões in Os Lusíadas. The blood remained stuck to the rocks of the fountain bed, turning the waters red even today!
During the Peninsular War, António Maria Osório Cabral de Castro, ancestor of the current owners, gave shelter to the Duke of Wellington, whose aide-de-camp he was. Over the years, this space has undergone some changes, such as the creation of a romantic garden (1850) with exotic species, the construction of a neo-Gothic door and window, and the design of an amphitheater: “Colina de Camões” (Camões Hill).
History
Quinta das Lágrimas is much more than just a charming hotel. The comfort of its rooms and halls is combined with a historical past and a love legend that is lost in time. It was here that, in the 14th century, the forbidden love affair of Prince Pedro with a beautiful Galician maiden called Inês de Castro took place.
Legend tells that it was at Quinta das Lágrimas that Inês wept for the last time as she was stabbed by the daggers of the three noblemen whom Pedro's father, King Afonso IV, had ordered to be killed. The blood she shed then still colours the stones of the fountain that was born from her tears.
The palace has numerous rooms and balconies that offer perfect retreats for reading and conversation. The library, lined with exotic wood panelling, holds thousands of old books that tell the story of Portugal and of the family that today, as in the past, welcomes guests in this happy house with tears.
Differentiating aspects
Restaurant
Our kitchen uses the traditional products of this region to create recipes with a unique flavour by the hands of Chef Vítor Dias.
Golf
Quinta das Lágrimas has a golf academy led by PGA professionals and specialised in short game training.
Gardens
Quinta das Lágrimas is a veritable plant museum with a collection of world-class gardens: romantic, Japanese, medieval, smelling gardens, organic vegetable garden and extensive woodland.
Bamboo Garden SPA
The Bamboo Garden Spa combines the best of modern aesthetics with ancestral principles of balance between body and mind.
Outdoor pool
The hotel has an outdoor freshwater swimming pool that is open between May and October.
Schedule
Summer: March 16 to October 15, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Winter: October 16 to March 15, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Quinta das Lágrimas
Rua António Augusto Gonçalves
3041-901 Coimbra
Portugal
reservas@quintadaslagrimas.pt
https://fundacaoinesdecastro.com/jardim/#visitas