The Orient and a thermal water city

The fantastic Buddha Eden garden and the city of Caldas da Rainha in Portugal were the visited routes of our travel.

We started our visit to the Buddha Eden garden situated in the municipality of Bombarral about seventy five kilometers North of Lisbon.

Map of the visited places

In 2001, the world in shock has observed the destruction of the giant Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan. Then, it came out the idea of creating a space which give it back this great buddhist cultural and historical legacy. This is how the Buddha Eden garden was born with a huge area of 35 hectares being the largest oriental garden in the Europe.

Among the vegetation of the garden stands out various statues of buddhas, soldiers of the terracotta army (the Xian warriors of the first emperor of China), sculpted dragons as well as two beautiful gardens, the Modern and Contemporary Sculpture and the African Sculpture Art.

In addition to the art exhibition the Buddha Eden garden has magnificent lakes with the sensational koi carp fish.

The map below shows the highlights of the Buddha Eden garden and will be a reference throughout the text.

Map without scale of the Buddha Eden garden; source https://www.bacalhoa.pt/

We then start our visit to the Budda Eden garden towards Pagoda Lake (16).

Entrance to the Buddha Eden garden Asian Lion Sculptures

Along the way to Pagoda Lake View along Pagoda Lake

The Thirteen Buddhas of the Dead at bottom

Yakushi the Buddha of health and medicine Bodhisattva a figure in awakening the compassion of all Buddhas

Going up towards Fire Place View Point (13), there is a fantastic view of Pagoda Lake.

General view of Pagoda Lake The army of Terracotta

On the way to the Giant Buddhas (10) we can see an aligned set of several seated Buddhas and others displayed on the surfaces in form of shields in the middle of two columns.

On the way to the Giant Buddhas Buddha in the middle of two columns

We then arrive at the impressive area of the Giant Buddhas. However there was also miniature buddhas in that area.

The Giant Buddhas

Lying Buddha Miniatures of Buddhas

Going down through the stairs we went to the Golden Buddhas (9) area where there are also a set of sculptures of Asian lions.

Giant Buddhas at bottom A friendly smile of the golden buddha

Before moving to the Amphitheater (7) there was still time to take a picture in the pavilion in the middle of the Pagoda Lake.

In the area of the golden buddhas A selfie in the pavilion of the Pagoda lake

In the Amphitheater it is the Modern Sculpture Garden (4) with works of national and international artists.

In the Arte Modern Garden

From Pablo Atchugarry From Allen Jones

The hands sculptures of Peter Burke One of the passages for the terracotta army

From the Amphitheater we went to an area where there are the largest amount of terracotta soldiers.

The always striking presence of terracotta soldiers

Then we cross the bridge twoards Palm Lake (3) near the entrance to the Buddha Eden garden.

On the way to Palm Lake obsercing the Koi carp fish

Before arriving at Palm Lake we passed by the African Sculpture Garden and the Bamboo Maze.

We start taking photos at the African Sculpture Garden...

Miniatures of monkeys A bite from a crocodile

African sculpture in a family environment With the elegance of African sculpture

Art Shona of Zimbabwe (a) Art Shona of Zimbabwe (b)

… and below more photos of the Modern Art garden and the Bamboo Maze.

View of the Modern Art Garden Some statues at the Modern Art Garden

Lost in the African Savannah in the Bamboo Maze

The last area to visit at the Buddha Eden garden was the Palm Lake, a magificent lake with the famous koi carp fish.

Fountain of the big sphere close to Palm Lake View of the extension of the Palm Lake

The pruned trees close to Palm Lake The tenants of Palm Lake

After visiting the Buddha Eden garden, we have travelled about twenty kilometers to the city of Caldas da Rainha.

The growth’s history of the city of Caldas da Rainha is linked to Queen D. Leonor, who in 1485 ordered the constrution of a thermal hospital after having seen people bathing in hot springs. Continuing open to the public, the Thermal Hospital of Caldas da Rainha is the oldest in the world for the treatment in thermal waters.

In addtion to the medicinal thermal waters, Caldas da Rainha has a rich tradition in the manufacture of ceramic products.

When we arrived at the center of Caldas da Rainha we passed by the historic market at Praça da Fruta (Square of Fruit) in Praça da República. It is a historic market for producers and sellers of fruit, vegetables and regional products.

Praça da Fruta at Caldas da Rainha

View of Praça da Fruta

Then we went to lunch at the restaurant O Recanto of traditional Portuguese cuisine and local gastronomy. The chosen dishes were meat of boar and codfish. It was a delicious!

Meat of boar

Codfish

After lunch we walk to D.Carlos I Park, a beautiful leisure garden where there are romantic boats for rowing.

In the lake of D. Carlos I Park Century trees in D. Carlos I Park

A beautifil climbing plant in D. Carlos I Park

Beside D. Carlos I Park it is José Malhoa Museum related to the Portuguese Naturalism. It contains painting and sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Entrance of José Malhoa Museum Ceramic collection of Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro

Ceramic Jesus nativity scene José Malhoa oil painting in the last interrogation of Marquis of Pombal

Connected to D. Carlos I Park it is the Queen D. Maria Leonor Forest. Walking along the Queen D. Maria Leonor Forest we went to visit the Ceramics Museum.

The building of romantic architecture of the Museum of Ceramics dates from the beginning of the 19th century and displays collections of national and international ceramics from the 17th to the contemporary.

At Queen D. Leonor Forest Facade of the Ceramic Museum

Ceramic of the region of Caldas da Rainha

Bowl of Bordalo Pinheiro A banister vase of Real Fábrica do Rato

We say goodbye to the city of Caldas da Rainha with a photo of the Thermal Hospital in the Square of the Queen D. Leonor.

The Thermal Hospital

Then we went to see the sunset at the seaside town of Foz do Arelho, about ten kilometers from the center of Caldas da Rainha.

With a fantastic landscape we walk along the beautiful wooden walkway of Foz do Arelho with serval viewpoints on circular platforms.

View of Foz do Arelho

An extension wooden walkway part in Foz do Arelho

Viewpoints in circular platforms in Foz do Arelho The sunset in Foz do Arelho

The peace and tranquility transmitted by the Buddha Eden garden inspired by the buddhist philosophy in the search for the happiness of each one was a very rewarding experience for us.

It has also given us immense pleasure to witness that the city of Caldas da Rainha preserves its cultural and historic heritage thorugh its museums and romantic gardens as well as its two major references, the Thermal Hospital and the production of quality in ceramic products.

References website (1) Buddha Eden (2) Tursimo Centro das Caldas da Rainha

Thanks to Manuel Manero for blogging recommendations

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