Description of the attraction
Monserrate Palace, striking in its uniqueness, is located near Sintra, a traditional summer resort and a favorite vacation spot of the Portuguese kings and the Portuguese aristocracy.
The palace was built in 1858 for Sir Francis Cook, an English baronet who later became Viscount de Montserrat. The history of the palace dates back to 1540, when a chapel named Monserrate was built on a mountain not far from Sintra. For several centuries, the land next to the chapel was bought by various people, and also built up. As a result, in 1855, Francis Cook, a famous English textile magnate and collector, bought the estate from the Melu and Castro family, who were the owners at that time, and built a new palace.
The construction of this unique architectural complex was carried out by the English architect James Knowles Jr. A park was laid out around the palace. The park was designed by landscape designer James Burt, along with landscape painters William Stockdale and William Neuville, the leading botanist of the day. The park has a waterfall, lakes and even artificial ruins. In addition to cork oak and strawberry trees, the park is home to flowers and plants from all over the world, including palms, bamboo, rhododendrons and many others.
The palace itself is a prime example of Portuguese romanticism. The building is decorated with a large round tower, the interior of the palace amazes with its exotic decoration in the neo-Gothic style. It is worth noting that in 2013 Montserrate Palace and Park received the European Garden Award.
