Buçaco Forest is an arboretum located north of Coimbra, near the spa town of Luso. It is surrounded by a stone wall with several gates, crowning the northern end of the Serra do Buçaco. This 105ha forest is home to a most incredible variety of species. In the middle, a fantastical palace-hotel built circa 1900 stands in a large clearing. A variety of walks take you to the hermitages built by monks that are dotted about the forest.