Fundação da Casa de Mateus
Fundação da Casa de Mateus things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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A beautiful place to explore and learn about the heritage of a very privileged and wealthy family and what they've achieved throughout history. There are 3 ticket options, garden, house and garden and house, garden and chapel. We went for the later, which included an audio guide for the garden and a guided tour of the house and chapel. Overall the service and site were great, albeit we felt that the entry costs were a little steep. In hindsight, we'd probably only pay to see the gardens as the guided tour of the house and chapel weren't that inspiring. Yes there is a lot of history, but the artefacts and decor were somewhat underwhelming in contrast to the gardens.
Nick BennettNick Bennett
30
It's ok. Was a little underwhelming. The gardens are nice but you can see it all in under 45 mins. We also opted for the house tour which was ok, but I felt that I didn't leave with more info than I could Google online, it also didn't include the chapel. The cost was €13 which I think is steep for Vila Real (almost every other group said the same thing at the entrance). I understand they need to pay for the expensive upkeep of the gardens but I feel that if the prices where more accessible, more people would come. For example, we were a group of 5 and only 3 of us wanted to pay to enter. If the price was a little less/fair then all 5 of us would have paid entry (and the venue would have profited more). I think management is missing a trick here. The prices are more Lisbon/Porto prices... Also - massive point: there is no wine tasting/relevance with the Mateus wine here. The tour guide explained there is a connection with the "image" of the house, but no affiliation now.
Andre Da SilvaAndre Da Silva
10
That was so disappointing. Unless you are a Mateus wine fervent follower, just avoid this place. The pricing is ridiculous: I was charged €12,50 just to see the gardens because the chapel (included in the price in theory) is closed in the winter. The palace, the gardens and the chapel look splendid but I guess this pricing is simply a joke. There are so many as beautiful places in the world and you are usually offered free or at least decently-priced entrance to the gardens. Want a recommendation? OEIRAS near Lisboa. What a lovely place, and you can enjoy the gardens for free because the palace is being renovated. I tried to speak about my disappointment to the person at the ticket office but of course I was politely ignored. Not very compatible with the premium image they are selling. PS if you really need to stop there, I recommend having coffee at a local bar just opposite, a place so simple and staff so kind... "The best things in life are (almost) free"
Barto PielakBarto Pielak
10
Gorgeous palace with baroque architecture and so much history! This is a half public and half private space, so sometimes you can meet the Contessa and her dog. This is also a winery where you can sample some of their wines. I suggest joining in the tour group to understand the history of the palace. We went here as part of our day trip to Douro valley with our guide Pedro (find his small group tour on Airbnb experiences). He also explained the winery and process to us, which was so much fun! The house and gardens are so exquisite. Enjoy a few hours here exploring. They also have a vegetable and fruit garden which was so fun to see.
B. GallegoB. Gallego
00
Absolutely beautiful property, but the staff was a bit rude (I think they’re French…), hence the -1 star. To start, parking is difficult so plan to turn into the side street (for free) before you reach the entrance. I’d personally skip the guided tour ticket and just explore the property on your own. Bring a lunch and buy a bottle of wine, then have yourself a beautiful picnic lunch anywhere on the expansive property. The flowers, architecture and landscape are absolutely stunning. Also…the “grape ale” is a revelation! This place is worth the stop between Porto/Amarante and The Douro.
Jack HuberJack Huber
00
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.
Boaz CSBoaz CS
10
Nearby Restaurants Of Fundação da Casa de Mateus
Restaurante Convívio- Vila Real
Vinho & Tretas Winehouse & Restaurant
Casa Jorge
O Pisco
Casa Chuço
3
Restaurante Convívio- Vila Real
4.4
(401)Click for details
Vinho & Tretas Winehouse & Restaurant
4.7
(150)Click for details
Casa Jorge
4.5
(123)Click for details
O Pisco
4.4
(96)Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
Casa de Mateus, 5000-291 Vila Real, Portugal
Map
Phone
+351 259 323 121
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Website
casademateus.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.3
(2.6K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
outdoor
family friendly
Description
The Mateus Palace is a palace 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.
attractions: , restaurants: Restaurante Convívio- Vila Real, Vinho & Tretas Winehouse & Restaurant, Casa Jorge, O Pisco, Casa Chuço, 3
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