Monte do Barata

Some 860 hectares of rolling Mediterranean country lie within the game fence: nearly all of Monte do Barata, a 920-hectare estate near Monforte da Beira, in Portugal’s Castelo Branco district. A private paved road of 3.2 kilometers leads to its house, built in 1903 and since restored.

Springs and four large reservoirs supply the estate, with water points for game spread across the ground. The fence stands 2.5 meters high, and internal tracks, hunting towers, stands for driven hunts, and wildlife management facilities are in place. A hunting lodge with its own bar and fireplace receives guests.

The main residence has been restored with modern materials while keeping its character and its open views. A Lacanche range anchors the kitchen, and the bedrooms are air-conditioned; outside are a pool of 14 by 5 meters and a terrace of exotic wood. Separate guest rooms give family and friends their own privacy, and workshops, garages, and stores complete the compound, with solar power, connectivity, security cameras, and electric gates.

Olive and almond give Monte do Barata a harvest of its own: about 120 hectares of olive groves, 90 of them organic, and 6.5 hectares of irrigated organic almonds. The year here follows the groves as well as the season.