Casa de Mateus

Casa de Mateus, near Vila Real, is one of the most elegant manor houses of Portugal: a baroque palace of the eighteenth century, famous for its gardens, its chapel and the wine that carries its name. The house of the Mateus family since it was built, it is also one of the icons of the Douro region, on the road from Vila Real to the terraces of the river.

The house

The palace was built in the first half of the eighteenth century by the architect Nicolau Nasoni, in the golden age of the Portuguese baroque. Between the house and the gardens, the visit follows the rooms of the family, the library and the chapel, and crosses the box gardens, the avenues of camellias and the great pond that reflects the facade — the image that became the emblem of the estate. The wines of Casa de Mateus are made from the vineyards around the house.

What to see

• The baroque facade and the great pond of the gardens.
• The box gardens and the avenues of camellias, roses and lime trees.
• The rooms of the house and its library and chapel.
• The vineyards and wine cellars of the estate.

Visiting

Casa de Mateus lies a few minutes from Vila Real, by the road to Sabrosa and the Douro. House and gardens are visited on the days and hours published by the foundation, which also organises the events of the estate; confirm the programme and the visit conditions with the official information before travelling.

Nearby

The city of Vila Real e il Douro Valley with its vineyards are the great complements of a visit to the house.

Information: casademateus.com.

Image credit: Casa de Mateus, Vila Real, by Carlos Cunha, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.