Coimbra Oktoberfest: PRÁXIS Garden Party at Quinta das Lágrimas

Not a standard Oktoberfest: a Coimbra-style season finale

PRÁXIS Garden Party – Oktoberfest à moda de Coimbra is the special closing event of Quinta das Lágrimas’ 2026 summer season. Throughout the summer, the Friday-evening Garden Party series has brought gastronomy, live cooking and music to the historic gardens. Its 25 September finale adopts the theme “Oktoberfest à moda de Coimbra”.

This is neither an official extension nor a replica of Munich’s Oktoberfest. It is a Coimbra-style Oktoberfest, reinterpreting German-inspired flavours through Coimbra’s brewing culture, local brands and the historic setting of Quinta das Lágrimas.

The event begins at 18:30 on Friday 25 September 2026 and runs until 22:00. The organiser actively encourages guests to reserve; advance booking is especially sensible for groups.

Fire, beer and live music in one garden

The food programme centres on grilled meats and sausages prepared over open fire in front of guests. German-inspired snacks and several beer styles from Coimbra-based Praxis will accompany them. The organiser has not published a detailed menu, so it would be unwise to assume that any particular German dish will be served.

The announced drinks include Topázio Pilsner, Onyx Dark Lager and Caxôpo, a non-alcoholic apple-flavoured malt drink. Live music completes the relaxed Garden Party atmosphere as afternoon turns into evening.

The evening’s special beer: 1326 Imperial Stout

Developed jointly by Quinta das Lágrimas and Praxis, 1326 is an Imperial Stout created for the 2026 programme marking a 700-year anniversary. According to Praxis product information, it has 8.5% ABV and 45 IBU, with notes of bitter chocolate, roasted coffee, cocoa and caramelised malt.

The name 1326 was not chosen at random: it points to one of the starting dates in the historical story told by the Quinta today. This is a strong, higher-alcohol beer intended for slow enjoyment; the non-alcoholic Caxôpo has also been announced for guests who do not drink alcohol.

Why does 1326 matter? 700 years of Fonte and Canal dos Amores

It would be inaccurate to say that “Quinta das Lágrimas was founded in 1326”. The 700-year theme in 2026 refers to the history linking Fonte dos Amores and its historic water channel to 1326. According to Fundação Inês de Castro, Queen Santa Isabel ordered a channel here to carry water from two springs to the nearby Santa Clara monastery.

Fonte dos Amores, Fonte das Lágrimas and the channel seen in the gardens today stand at the centre of the estate’s historical and literary identity. The 1326 Imperial Stout brings that story to the event table.

Pedro and Inês: where does history end and legend begin?

The documented historical core is clear: the relationship between Prince Pedro and Inês de Castro became a political crisis at court. Inês was killed in 1355 on the orders of King Afonso IV, and Pedro later became King Pedro I of Portugal.

Other claims belong to legend and literary tradition rather than established historical fact: that Quinta das Lágrimas was definitively the setting of their love, that the water channel carried letters between the lovers, that Fonte das Lágrimas was formed from Inês’s tears, and that red marks on the rock were her blood. The scientific explanation for the red colouring is a freshwater alga named Hildenbrandia rivularis.

This distinction does not diminish the story’s cultural power. The works of many writers, including Camões, transformed the story of Pedro and Inês into one of the most enduring romantic tragedies in Portuguese culture.

Do not miss Figueira dos Amores

The huge Ficus macrophylla near Fonte dos Amores has been one of the garden’s most striking natural features for about 150 years. According to the history presented by Fundação Inês de Castro, it grew from a seed obtained in the 19th century through an exchange between the estate’s aristocratic owner and Sydney Botanic Garden.

The tree received 2,713 votes to become Portugal’s 2025 Tree of the Year, then finished second in European Tree of the Year. If you can visit the gardens before the Garden Party, this monumental tree deserves some time.

Before the event: a short Quinta das Lágrimas route

For visitors who want to explore the historic grounds before the Garden Party, the natural route begins at Fonte dos Amores. Follow the water towards the historic Canal dos Amores, then continue to Fonte das Lágrimas, closely associated with the Pedro and Inês legend.

Your next stop is Figueira dos Amores, with its vast roots and trunk. If time allows, take a short walk through the gardens and their plant collections from different periods before heading to the Garden Party area.

Tickets, reservations and contact details

Official event page & reservations

Prices, availability and the programme may change, so check the final terms before paying. No separate, event-specific direct booking URL could be verified; proceeding through the official Quinta page is the safest option.

Getting there and planning your return

Quinta das Lágrimas is in the Santa Clara area on the left bank of the Mondego River. From Coimbra-B, you can use a taxi, ride-hailing service or current SMTUC connections. Rather than relying on an unverified bus number, check the route and evening return options directly with SMTUC on the day.

Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains run from Lisboa to Coimbra-B. Because the event ends at 22:00, a same-night return to Lisboa may not always be practical. Before buying your train ticket, check CP’s current timetable and connection margin for the night of 25 September; consider staying overnight in Coimbra if necessary. The organiser also suggests combining the event with a stay at the Quinta.

Final checks before you go