Queluz National Palace

Also called the Palácio Nacional de Queluz Palacio Real de Queluz to German National Palace of Queluz, is one of the largest rococo palace gardens in Europe. It is located in the city of Queluz, near Lisbon in Portugal. It is also referred to as " Portuguese Versailles ".

History

It was designed as a summer residence for D. Pedro III. , Later the Prince Consort of Queen Dona Maria I, in the 18th century by the Portuguese architect Mateus Vicente de Oliveira and Manuel Caetano de Sousa. The work was begun in 1747. A wing of the complex was designed by the French architect Jean Baptiste Robillon and built 1785-1792. This now serves as a guest house for state visitors. The royal palace theater in the palace was inaugurated on 17 December 1778 as the first anniversary of the coronation of the Queen.

After the palace was destroyed by Ajuda in a fire in 1794, served Queluz Prince Regent João VI. and his successors, until their escape from Napoleon Bonaparte to Brazil, as an official residence.

To the palace complex also includes a large park.