Tours and Other Tourism Services

A few kilometres from the town of Alter do Chão, amidst the vast plains of the Alentejo, there is a large orange gate: through it you enter a “fantastic world of horses”. 

In the 18th century, the Portuguese king John V was passionate about horses and developed a desire to provide Portugal with the best nationally produced saddle horses, suitable for High School (Alta Escola) practice and for use in the Royal Riding Arena (Picaria Real). With this desire in mind, he founded the Alter Stud Farm in 1748, which today is the oldest stud farm in the world operating uninterruptedly on the same site. Its 800 hectares of property, as well as stunning landscapes, are the kingdom of the Lusitano Thoroughbred horse.

In addition to an Interpretation Centre, where a detailed exhibition explains how the stud farm was able to overcome so many historical, social and economic adversities, becoming an unparalleled example of longevity, there is also the possibility of taking a guided tour through centuries of history, passing through a vast array of historic spaces, which are still used today for the day-to-day activities that take place at the Alter Stud Farm for the benefit of the horse, as well as the Coaches House (Casa dos Trens) where you can see a vast collection of horse carriages.

In the stables, you can admire the nobility of the Lusitano horse, the Alter Real marking, learning how they become stallions of excellence and High School Horses to be used by the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art (Escola Portuguesa de Arte Equestre) or to take part at the highest level in sporting competitions, particularly dressage. 

Using digital tools and new technologies, you can also visit the only “virtual mares herd” in the country.

Not to be missed is the moment when visitors can watch and photograph a mares herd with more than 60 mares going out into the field, sometimes accompanied by their foals.

The Alter Stud Farm is also the ideal place to practise various equestrian activities and has various facilities designed for all ages and which can be adapted to different levels of learning, allowing baptisms on horseback and hitching, as well as going for rides, classes and riding lessons.