Paço dos Duques de Bragança

Beside the castle of Guimarães, the Paço dos Duques de Bragança recalls the power of the house that would give Portugal its last dynasty. Built in the fifteenth century and rebuilt in the twentieth, it now displays tapestries, furniture and objects that illustrate the life of the nobility.

A palace of the Braganzas

The palace was built in the fifteenth century for Afonso, first Duke of Braganza, on a scale that reflected the wealth of the family. It was abandoned for centuries and stood in ruins until the twentieth century, when it was rebuilt and furnished as a museum and, for a time, as an official residence. Today it belongs to the state and forms part of the historic centre of Guimarães, listed by UNESCO.

What to see

• The central courtyard and the palace’s monumental rooms.
• Flemish tapestries, furniture and ceramics.
• Arms and armour, and objects of the Portuguese nobility.
• The nearby castle of Guimarães and the Romanesque church of São Miguel.

Visiting the palace

The palace is at Rua Conde D. Henrique, Guimarães, next to the castle. Opening hours and tickets are published on the official website, so check before your visit.

Visitor information: pacodosduques.gov.pt.

Image credit: Paço dos Duques de Bragança, Guimarães, by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.