Europe is rich in ancient palaces, so it is difficult to surprise sophisticated travellers with such architectural structures. But the Palace of Queluz, located on the outskirts of the capital of Portugal, is worth a visit. This complex, one of the last masterpieces of the Rococo era, has become Portuguese Versailles. It is lavishly decorated with paintings, art canvases. Here you can not only immerse yourself in the past, get acquainted with the life of the Portuguese kings, but also walk through a luxurious landscaped park with neatly trimmed shrubs, a fountain in the form of Neptune and statues brought from different countries.
Location
The Palace of Queluz (Portuguese: Palácio Nacional de Queluz) is located on the west coast of Portugal, in the city of the same name. The address of the site is Largo do Palácio de Queluz 2745-191 Queluz (Sintra municipality). It is 14 kilometres west of Lisbon.
History and description of the place
The luxurious architectural and park ensemble that became Portugal's Versailles was built in the mid-18th century, commissioned by the monarch Pedro III (son of João V and great-grandson of João IV). It was created on the site of a country house that had been part of the royal estate. The palace was a gift for Pedro's wife, Queen Maria I, and was to serve as a summer residence for the ruling family. Due to the complexity of the structure, the development of the surrounding area, as well as natural disasters, the construction of the facility, which began in 1747, took almost 50 years to complete. At first it was led by the Portuguese architect Mateus Vicente de Oliveira. In 1755 the work was suspended because of the earthquake, then they were headed by French architect Jean-Baptiste Robillon. The painting of the building was carried out by the court painter Pilman.
The facade of the residence of the Portuguese monarchs is painted in pastel colours, against which the elegant white cornices, portals and columns stand out spectacularly. Inside, there are private quarters as well as rooms for public events, decorated in the best rococo traditions. The private apartments are characterised by domed ceilings, floors made of exotic wood and walls decorated with thematic frescoes. The throne room, music room and ambassadors' room look solemn and majestic with marble slabs, luxurious crystal chandeliers and plenty of mirrors. The chambers are lavishly decorated with gilded sculptures, art canvases depicting the royal family. Such luxurious decoration led to the fact that the ensemble began to compare with the residence of the French kings of Versailles.
The Palácio de Queluz complex was completely built in 1790. A garden was planted around the palace and a regular park with shrubs and flowerbeds was laid out. The landscaped space of the estate occupies 16 hectares. Many tour operators have filmed it from a drone. It used to host knights' tournaments and entertainment events for kings with concerts and fireworks. The crowned family kept a menagerie, liked to go boating on the water canal.
Queluz became the last refuge of Maria I, who after the death of her husband suffered a mental breakdown, and the reins of power passed into the hands of their son, João VI. In 1910, after the fall of the monarchy, the palace became the property of the state, and later became a museum and a place to receive foreign heads of government. The complex was almost completely engulfed by fire in 1934, but its interior decoration was restored.
Now the palace is open to tourists. The attraction welcomes guests with a statue of the Queen, for whom the mansion was built. You can walk around it for hours, looking into the solemn halls and personal chambers. It is easy to feel like the monarchs of Portugal. It is impossible not to compare the object with the French Versailles. Inside the mansion, there is a royal collection of furniture, paintings, carpets, as well as ceramics and porcelain. The huge park attracts with neat paths with clipped shrubs, fragrant flower beds, topiary. There is a garden temple surrounded by statues and monumental fountains. Sometimes instrumental concerts for visitors are organised in the palace."
Photo: Khajj. Source: Pixabay
How to get there
The town of Quelos is halfway from Lisbon to Sintra. The address of the site, called the Portuguese Versailles, is Largo do Palácio de Queluz 2745-191 Queluz. Getting there from the capital takes 10-15 minutes by car (motorway IC 19), 20 minutes by train. There is also a bus from Rodoviária Nacional (get off at the Queluz/Palacio stop).
You can also get to the mansion from the nearby harbour town of Cascais, famous for its gorge called "Devil's Mouth". Several buses run there, covering the 20-kilometre distance in 1.5 hours.
When and how you can visit the palace
You can see Palácio de Queluz not only from drone footage, but also in person. The palace is open to the public daily, opening hours are 9:00-18:00. An adult ticket costs €10, with discounts for children and pensioners (final cost €3 and €9 respectively). You can buy your ticket online so you don't have to queue. A tour of the mansion and garden is available for €10, while horse and pony rides at the National Academy of Equestrian Art, located on the grounds, are extra.
There is a combination ticket that allows you to see the various sights of Sintra over the course of a month, as well as the Queluz Palace. The site has become an iconic place that preserves the memories of the Portuguese monarchy and is included in many sightseeing tours starting from Lisbon.
