Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal - SpottingHistory.com

The Palace of Queluz is a Portuguese 18th-century palace located at Queluz in the Lisbon District. One of the last great Rococo buildings to be designed in Europe, the palace was conceived as a summer retreat for Dom Pedro of Braganza, later to become husband and then king consort to his own niece, Queen Maria I. It served as a discreet place of incarceration for Queen Maria as her descent into madness continued in the years following Dom Pedro's death in 1786. Following the destruction by fire of the Ajuda Palace in 1794, Queluz Palace became the official residence of the Portuguese prince regent, John VI, and his family and remained so until the Royal Family fled to the Portuguese colony of Brazil in 1807 following the French invasion of Portugal.

Work on the palace began in 1747 under the architect Mateus Vicente de Oliveira. Despite being far smaller, the palace is often referred to as the Portuguese Versailles. From 1826, the palace slowly fell from favour with the Portuguese sovereigns. In 1908, it became the property of the state. Following a serious fire in 1934, which gutted the interior, the palace was extensively restored, and today is open to the public as a major tourist attraction.

One wing of the palace, the Pavilion of Dona Maria, built between 1785 and 1792 by the architect Manuel Caetano de Sousa, is now a guest house allocated to foreign heads of state visiting Portugal.

References:

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User Reviews

Tetyana Husar (20 months ago)
Beautiful place, a lot to see, not many tourists in February. Oranges in the garden are delicious. Just go and pick it up

Sao Alves C. (21 months ago)
A beautiful place for the History lovers, but not only. The gardens provide an amazing walk among natural and human built wonders. You really can't miss it :)

Susan Marsh (21 months ago)
The Palace and gardens of Queluz are amazing and a must see if in Lisbon. The throne room alone is worth the visit. When you see the pictures of how it was before they started the renovations you can appreciate just how much work has been undertaken. Lots of information in English and lots of parking and a modern coffee shop which extended out onto the Palace terrace. We went on a Sunday afternoon in October and spent about 4 hours there. As i say, a must see and located (by car) about 40 minutes away from Lisbon.

Joe Ng (2 years ago)
If you’ve ever been to Versailles or explored any of the palaces in Austria, then this place will remind you of all your other palace adventures. In terms of scale, don’t expect Versailles, or even Schönbrunn in Vienna. Visit with an open mind and in weather for a stroll outside and you’ll be pleasantly surprised that such an experience was even possible half an hour away from downtown Lisbon. I visited in winter and the mild sunny weather was absolutely enchanting for the final stroll through the gardens at the end of the self-guided tour. There are helpful multimedia guides provided free of charge to give your trip context and appreciation.

David Andrews (2 years ago)
Not one of the most famous tourist attractions but absolutely worth visiting. The place has been restored (still some work going on) and includes period pieces of furniture and art. The grounds are spectacular and it is very relaxing to wander through the palace and the grounds. Without even noticing you learn a lot.

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The Old Town Hall of Wrocław is one of the main landmarks of the city. The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction. The town hall serves the city of Wroclaw and is used for civic and cultural events such as concerts held in its Great Hall. In addition, it houses a museum and a basement restaurant.

The town hall was developed over a period of about 250 years, from the end of 13th century to the middle of 16th century. The structure and floor plan changed over this extended period in response to the changing needs of the city. The exact date of the initial construction is not known. However, between 1299 and 1301 a single-storey structure with cellars and a tower called the consistory was built. The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time. In these early days the primary purpose of the building was trade rather than civic administration activities.

Between 1328 and 1333 an upper storey was added to include the Council room and the Aldermen’s room. Expansion continued during the 14th century with the addition of extra rooms, most notably the Court room. The building became a key location for the city’s commercial and administrative functions.

The 15th and 16th centuries were times of prosperity for Wroclaw as was reflected in the rapid development of the building during that period. The construction program gathered momentum, particularly from 1470 to 1510, when several rooms were added. The Burghers’ Hall was re-vaulted to take on its current shape, and the upper story began to take shape with the development of the Great Hall and the addition of the Treasury and Little Treasury.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59). This was the final stage of the main building program. By 1560, the major features of today’s Stray Rates were established.

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During the 19th century there were two major changes. The courts moved to a separate building, and the Rates became the site of the city council and supporting functions. There was also a major program of renovation because the building had been neglected and was covered with creeping vines. The town hall now has several en-Gothic features including some sculptural decoration from this period.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902. During the 1930s, the official role of the Rates was reduced and it was converted into a museum. By the end of World War II Town Hall suffered minor damage, such as aerial bomb pierced the roof (but not exploded) and some sculptural elements were lost. Restoration work began in the 1950s following a period of research, and this conservation effort continued throughout the 20th century. It included refurbishment of the clock on the east facade.

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