Park and Palace of Monserrate

A masterpiece of Romanticism. A retreat for writers, Monserrate attracted numerous international visitors, especially among the British, who praised its beauty in their travel accounts and engravings. When Francis Cook, a rich, 19th century British industrialist and a great art collector, visited here, he was fascinated. From this passion there emerged a masterpiece of Romanticism: the Park and Palace of Monserrate.

A retreat for writers, Monserrate attracted numerous international visitors, especially among the British, who praised its beauty in their travel accounts and engravings. When Francis Cook, a rich, 19th century British industrialist and a great art collector, visited here, he was fascinated. From this passion there emerged a masterpiece of Romanticism: the Park and Palace of Monserrate.

Francis Cook put his dream into practice in transforming Monserrate into what we know today, with its exuberant gardens – capable of amazing visitors with the exotic species sourced from every corner of the world –, and a palace that represents a true ode to romantic architecture, the refined taste of Francis Cook and the genius of its architect James Knowles Jr., who combined various different influences here.

However, the history of this charming site is marked by many different vicissitudes. Behind the majestically worked walls, Monserrate hides many different pasts but that always exalt its natural beauty.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Park of Monserrate is accessible to people with mobility restrictions using electric cars (hop on hop off system) or a traction equipment that pulls wheelchairs and allows visitors to overcome large slopes. Along the Park, it is also possible to access the main facilities, namely, toilets, a shop and a cafeteria. The Palace of Monserrate is accessible in the noble floor by a permanent ramp. It is possible to visit the entire length of this floor, however, at this moment, there is no access to the upper floor of the Palace or the kitchen.

Inside the Palace, there is a tactile model that all visitors can touch in order to understand the volumetry and materiality of the building.Tactile models of each room, depicting main pieces of furniture from the XIX century, are also available.

HOW TO REACH

Public Transports
Lisbon > Sintra: Train (CP) – Sintra Line
(Departure stations: Oriente; Rossio; Entrecampos)

Sintra (train station) > Monserrate: Bus n.º 435 (Scotturb) - This circuit is temporarily interrupted due to interventions on the road between Sintra and Colares.

Car
You can reach the town of Sintra using:

• IC19 (from Lisbon)

• IC30 (from Mafra)

• EN9 (from Cascais, via the A5)

The Park and Palace of Monserrate is located on the road that connects the center of the town centre of Sintra to Colares (EN375).

Due to road interventions, access through Colares is recommended.

GPS Coordinates
38º47'38.515"N 9º25'15.413"W

ADMISSION

Open daily apart from 1 January and 24,25,31 December:

Opening Times
Palace
9:30am – 6:00pm (last ticket 5:00pm and last admission 5:30pm)

Park
9:00am - 7:00pm (last ticket 5:30pm and last admission 6:00pm)

Prices (15% online discount if purchased at least 3 days in advance)
Palace and Park
Adult (18 – 64 yrs) – 12€
Youth (6 – 17 yrs) – 10€
Senior (over 65 yrs) – 10€
Child (<6 yrs) - Free
Family (2 adults + 2 youths) – 33€