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GPS 38.69297012569669, -9.314563484659416

The Palace of the Marquis of Pombal or Palace of the Counts of Oeiras is a typical manor house from the 18th century located in the Historic Center of Oeiras.

Built under the supervision of the Hungarian architect Carlos Mardel in the second half of the 18th century, the palace served as the official residence of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, also known as the Count of Oeiras and Marquis of Pombal, from which the name of the building derives.

The palace and gardens are characterized by architectural and artistic elements (stucco, tiles, statues, etc.) that are rare and of great beauty.

The Palace of the Marquês de Pombal has been classified as a National Monument since 1953.

History

The large and remarkable building was started by the brother of the Marquis Francisco Xavier de Mendonça Furtado, as can be seen in an inscription over the side entrance of the residence. In fact, the two brothers of the marquis - Francisco Xavier de Mendonça and Paulo de Carvalho e Mendonça, the first Minister and Secretary of State, the second prelate and also holder of several important positions and titles - used their income to benefit Quinta de Oeiras , which had come into Sebastião José's possession through his first wife, D.Teresa de Noronha, as successor in the bonds of his uncle Paulo de Carvalho e Ataíde, archpriest of the Holy Patriarchal Church, who died in 1737. This explains another inscription in dependence of the palace next to the road and the one on the wall of the so-called Quinta de Cima, in which Paulo de Carvalho and Mendonça are mentioned.

The former farm was formed through the incorporation of several couples and farms next to Ribeira da Laje, benefiting from its fertile land. In its initial layout, the farm was characterized by a rigorous geometry, in order to articulate the recreational aspects (gardens and woods) and lucrative (the rural property).

In the so-called Quinta de Baixo one could find the palace, the gardens and the cellar/barn. This Quinta was connected to Quinta de Cima or Quinta Grande by a central axis called Avenida or Rua dos Loureiros.

In Quinta de Cima, the Casa da Pesca and the Cascata do Taveira (or the Giants) were located. This property used to produce silkworms. The third farm was called “Quinta do Marco”, currently only one building remains. It consisted of farmland with vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees.

In the 2nd half of the 20th century, the property was sold and fractioned, with Quinta de Baixo being acquired by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Quinta de Cima being purchased by the State and given way to the National Agricultural Station.

The property belongs to the city council of Oeiras since 2004.

In 2015, the palace and its gardens became permanently open to the public.

The Palace complex, the gardens, the Fishing House and the Waterfall are classified as a National Monument.

The Palace

Built in the second half of the 18th century, it is an imposing palace with its long, curving stone staircases and its austere Baroque style. It is known that in 1767 the canvas with the portraits of the marquis and his brothers Francisco and Paulo was already placed on the ceiling of the Sala da Concordia. Both the balcony on the south facade and the west facade are decorated with tiles, and on the west facade the windows are also crowned by oval ornaments with pediments and volutes and the intervals between windows were filled with busts resting on columns.

It was the summer residence of King José and his royal family (including his wife) during the summers of 1775 and 1776. Looking at the palace gives an idea of ​​the immense wealth of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, for this is a building of very palatial dimensions, decorated like a royal palace. It is today one of the best examples of the Portuguese manor house of the 18th century, following the Baroque and Rococo styles.

The palace is located in what used to be the immense manor farm. In addition to the palace, the magnificent gardens remain, with fantastic inspirations that could only come from a genius like Carvalho e Melo.

The Gardens

Os jardins ocupam estendem-se também para a margem direita da Ribeira da Lage. Símbolo da sua profunda cultura, típica de um europeu das Luzes, os jardins retêm marcos arquitectónicos de beleza rara e singela como a Cascata dos Poetas ou Gruta Nobre. Esta é arquitectonicamente muito importante em Portugal devido à sua aparência de gruta, adornada com os bustos dos quatro poetas preferidos de Pombal, entre eles Camões e Virgílio. Nos jardins encontram-se também estátuas, cascatas, e adornam também o espaço a Casa da Pesca e os antigos lagares do vinho e do azeite. No século XVIII, era comum a manutenção de quintas como espaços de lazer e de cultivo. Era nos jardins em torno do palácio que se realizavam os eventos culturais: teatro, bailado, música, etc. que se realizam ainda no presente, sobretudo no Verão.

A Capela

Fazendo parte desta quinta e mesmo ao lado da entrada para o palácio, fica a Capela do Solar. Desenhada também pela mão do arquitecto Carlos Mardel, foi dedicada a Nossa Senhora das Mercês e concluída em 1762. Destacam-se os estuques do italiano João Grossi, os três altares com pinturas de André Gonçalves e a representação da vida da Virgem.

A Quinta Agrícola

Na propriedade do Marquês de Pombal foi plantada uma vinha, que o Marquês estendeu mais tarde até Carcavelos. Local onde ainda hoje uma vinha produz o vinho Conde Oeiras ou vinho de Carcavelos. Pode também ser visitado o Lagar de Azeite do Marquês. Parte da propriedade é hoje a Estação Agronómica Nacional.