Just outside Alter do Chão, the Coudelaria de Alter (Alter Stud Farm) was created in 1748 by King João V to breed fine horses for the royal riding school, and it has run continuously on the same ground ever since — the oldest such stud farm in the world. Its estate stretches across hundreds of hectares of Alentejo countryside, home to the noble Alter Real lineage of the Lusitano breed.
Visitors can tour the working stables, watch horses being trained for the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, and see a herd of brood mares released into the fields with their foals. The complex also holds small museums on the stud farm's history and on horse-drawn carriages, a falconry centre, and a veterinary and breeding operation, making it a full half-day for anyone drawn to horses and living heritage.
Highlights
- Royal stud farm founded in 1748 by King João V
- Oldest stud farm still operating on its original site
- Home of the Alter Real strain of the Lusitano horse
- Working stables, brood-mare herds and foals in the fields
- On-site museums, carriage collection and falconry centre
History & context
King João V founded the stud farm in 1748 to supply horses for the royal riding school, importing mares to establish the Alter Real strain. Through invasions and changing fortunes it has bred Lusitano horses on the same estate for nearly three centuries, and today it is a state-owned institution central to Portugal's equestrian tradition.
🗓️ Best time to visit
Weekday mornings, when training takes place
⏱️ Duration
Half a day
♿ Accessibility
Largely accessible grounds and stables; some unpaved and gravel areas
Frequently asked questions
Where is the stud farm?
About 4 km from Alter do Chão, on a large walled estate in the Alto Alentejo countryside — a short drive or transfer from the town centre.
What is the Alter Real?
A strain of the Lusitano horse bred here since 1748, prized for classical dressage and used by the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art.
What can I see on a visit?
The stables and training, brood-mare herds with foals, museums on the farm's history and carriages, and falconry displays. Some activities need advance booking.
How long should I allow?
Around half a day to see the stables, museums and grounds; longer if you join a guided tour or riding activity.