Largo do Palácio. 2745 Queluz.
The Palace began as the country home of the Marqueses of Castelo Rodrigo, and was converted into the habitual residence of the Royal Family after the Restoration in the XVIII Century.
The transformation was in the hands of the House of the Infantado, and helped by architects, artists and master gardeners who came from all over Europe. They brought with them sculptures, materials and new plants and seeds, but managed, in the way they used these new elements, to retain the essential flavour of Portuguese customes and traditions.
The main façade of the Palace is of great interest because of the manner in which it has been built towards the interior rather than the exterior. This makes it impossible to imagine, from the outside, the magical world that exists behind its walls. The gardens are designed so as to create small, intimate spaces, in the best Italian tradition: should you wish take a walk, or sit and converse or would like to make a tryst or find a retreat…. The so called Lake House or House of Music is an edificie of great beauty and deserves to be sought out.
The Queluz Palace was ceased to be owned by the Portuguese Royal Family in 1908, and became part of the National Heritage. It has all been so perfectly conserved, that we can see today how such a house and garden came to be regarded as ideal for the inhabitants of that epoch. It is, moreover, considered to be unique among Royal Residences of the era.
