Fundação da Casa de Mateus — Attraction in Vila Real

Mateus Palace

Type: palace/church/garden Time spent: 60-120 min WC: available Path for disabled: available Car parking: available Bike parking: not available Public transport: bus (Mateus station) + 7 min walk. Price: adult/ student 25 y.o. / child [6-12]

12.50/10/6.25 EUR - chapel + garden + palace [external visit] 18/12.50/9 EUR - chapel + garden + palace [internal visit - museum] 25/15/12.50 EUR - chapel + garden + palace [internal visit guided] 30/21/[9] EUR - chapel + garden + palace + wine

Queue: 5 min

[!]Internal visits are scheduled / wine tours better to reserve

The Mateus Palace is 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. The current manor replaced the former family house built in the same location in the early 1600s. In 1910, it was classified as a National Monument.

The manor house Its interior decoration includes some intricately carved chestnut wood ceilings, furniture from several periods, 17th and 18th century paintings and a library with many books.

The garden Parts of the garden had been planted in the 1700s, modified in 1870 and expanded in 1930. In the 1950s and 1960s, the garden area was extensively modified and the lake was added to act as a mirror reflecting the manor house. A dense planting of chestnut and oak trees was added in the 1970s. The sculpture of a woman "sleeping" in the water was created by João Cutileiro and...

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...

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...

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