Palácio Nacional de Queluz - Queluz, Portugal
Posted by: 
manchanegra
N 38° 45.025 W 009° 15.475
29S E 477588 N 4289112
The Queluz National Palace is a 18th century palace located in the city of Queluz, in Portugal near Lisbon and was the residence of the Kings of Portugal.
Waymark Code: WMY97
Location: Portugal
Date Posted: 11/10/2006
Views: 58
The Queluz National Palace (Portuguese: Palácio Nacional de Queluz) is a 18th century palace located in the city of Queluz, in Portugal near Lisbon. The Palace of Queluz was the residence of the Kings of Portugal and, given its exuberant baroque-rococo architecture and gardens, is also nicknamed the Portuguese Versailles. It is also an important tourist attraction.
Building of the Palace of Queluz began still during the reign of King John V in 1747, under the direction of Portuguese architect Mateus Vicente de Oliveira. He directed the works until around 1755, when he moved to Lisbon to help rebuild the city after the Great Earthquake. He designed some courtyards, the ceremonial façade of the Palace, facing the gardens, as well as the tower of Saint Francis and other buildings.
The second architect of the Palace was the Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Robillon. He designed the gardens, many buildings and the interiors of the Palace, in rococo style, with the help of other French and Portuguese artists. Robillion adopted a floorplan in the shape of an "U", common in other rococo palaces in Europe. He also designed the Room of Honour, with a beautiful stairway.
The rooms of the Palace (Throne Room, Embassadors' Room, Music Room) are all magnificently decorated with rococo painting, gilt wood and tiles. The Chapel, for instance, is decorated with gilt wood work by Portuguese sculptor Silvestre Faria Lobo (around 1752).
The gardens are decorated with vases and statues brought from Italy and England, as well as multicoloured Portuguese tiles (installed in the 1750s and 1780s) and fountains.
In 1794, during the reign of Queen Mary I, the Palace of Queluz became the official residence of the Kings of Portugal.
The Pavillion of D. Maria, built from 1785 to 1792 and designed by Manuel Caetano de Sousa, is now the official residence of foreign heads of state visiting Portugal.
(From Wikipedia)
The "Official Tourism" URL link to the attraction: [Web Link]
The attraction’s own URL: [Web Link]
Hours of Operation:
Palace
09.30h – 17.00h
(Tickets close at 16h30)
Gardens
Summer
(Mai/Sep)
10.00h – 18.00h
Winter
(Oct/Apr)
10.00h – 17.00h
Closes on Tuesday and on Holidays (1st Jan, Easter Sunday, 1st Mai, 29 de June (Town Holliday) and 25st December.
Admission Prices:
Palace and Gardens
Normal: € 4
Young (15 to 25 wears) and retired: € 2
Children up to 14 anos: free.
Sunday and Hollidays up to 14:00: free.
Gardens € 1.5
Sunday and Hollidays up to 14:00: free.
Approximate amount of time needed to fully experience the attraction: Half of a day (2-5 hours)
Transportation options to the attraction: Personal Vehicle or Public Transportation
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