Mateus Palace, Vila Real, Portugal

The Mateus Palace is located in the civil parish of Mateus, municipality of Vila Real, Portugal. The three primary buildings are the manor, the winery and the chapel.

The winery buildings date from the 16th century and were modified in the 1800s. Architect Nicolau Nasoni was involved in the project for the construction of the palace, which took place in the 18th century, possibly between 1739 and 1743, according to one expert. The work was authorized by António José Botelho Mourão, 3rd Morgado of Mateus. The current manor replaced the former family house which was built in the same location in the early 1600s. In 1910, it was classified as a National Monument. The palace is owned by the Mateus Foundation.

The manor house

The palace is constructed following a rectangular plan open to the west, blocked by a building which demarcates a main courtyard and behind a private quadrangle.Between the doorway and the courtyard, an ornamental pond, surrounded by trees, serves as a mirror.The courtyard, opened like a U, is closed off by a balustrade.Between the wings, the courtyard is closed by a transversing decorated structure of an emblazoned pediment, encircled by two statue guards in baroque style.

Its interior decoration includes some intricately carved chestnut wood ceilings, furniture from several periods, 17th and 18th century paintings and a library with many books.

The garden

Parts of the garden had been planted in the 1700s, modified in 1870 and expanded in 1930. In the 1950s and 1960s, the garden area was extensively modified and the lake was added to act as a mirror reflecting the manor house. A dense planting of chestnut and oak trees was added in the 1970s. The sculpture of a woman 'sleeping' in the water was created by João Cutileiro and installed in 1981.

Palaces, manors and town halls in Portugal

Address

Mateus, Vila Real, Portugal

See all sites in Vila Real

Details

Founded: 16th century
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Portugal

More Information

www.casademateus.pt
en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Vila Real Cathedral (2,8 km)
Panoias Sanctuary (2,9 km)

Arnóia Castle (29,3 km)

User Reviews

Stephanie Polakowski (5 months ago)
Just stunning grounds! Huge watering pools in front and back, must see 200 year old tree outside of the entrance, and luscious walking paths. Try to buy a bag of fresh local cherries for €3 outside of the palace at the little fruit stand- delicious. This is a beautiful visit.

Mike Z (7 months ago)
Formal gardens at the side and back of the house are absolutely stunning. Barocco style manor house’s architecture blends well with gardens and surrounding vineyards. House is in private ownership but open to public for tours. Lots of authentic furniture and paintings over few centuries.

Boaz CS (10 months ago)
The guided tour of the house was enlightening - taught us some interesting stuff about nobility in old Portugal. The preserved furniture and art are fascinating, and the library is breathtaking. The garden outside is also beautiful. When we visited, though, the water bodies outside were not as pristine as in the marketing photos, and looked a bit rundown. It's a pity, because the cost of entry is not cheap, and one would expect more.... Also, it was bitterly cold inside, with not enough lighting, but I don't think there's much to do about it, so just be ready for that.

Theresa Hoban (15 months ago)
This was a very special tour and a special estate to visit. The home has been well maintained over hundreds of years and has a wealth of beautiful antiques and art that is museum worthy. The architecture is rich and the gardens were lovely. It is a scenic drive to get to the location and well worth the trip. The carved chestnut rooms and lithographs were amazing. The Foundation has done an excellent job of preserving their heritage.

Gary Rogers (16 months ago)
Lovely large estate with beautiful formal gardens. We enjoyed our visit and then strolled the gardens out back. The estate is, of course very old but magnificent with beautiful wood details. As you move from room-to-room the views from the windows add to the charm. Outside, the gardens are really lovely and there are many good photo opportunities. This is definitely worth a visit.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright stahli36

Historic Site of the week

Celje Castle

Celje Castle was once the largest fortification on Slovenian territory. The first fortified building on the site (a Romanesque palace) was built in the first half of the 13th century by the Counts of Heunburg from Carinthia on the stony outcrop on the western side of the ridge where the castle stands. It had five sides, or four plus the southern side, which was a natural defence. The first written records of the castle date back to between 1125 and 1137; it was probably built by Count Gunter. In the western section of the castle, there was a building with several floors. Remains of the walls of this palatium have survived. In the eastern section, there was an enclosed courtyard with large water reservoirs. The eastern wall, which protects the castle from its most exposed side, was around three metres thicker than the rest of the curtain wall. The wall was topped with a parapet and protected walkway.

Mateus Palace