Monserrate Palace - Portuguese Palácio de Monserrate, is a palace in the gardens of the same name near the city of Sintra in today's Lisbon District, Portugal. Designed by architect James Knowles, the palace was built in 1858 at the behest of Sir Francis Cooke, Viscount of Monserrat, whose summer residence it was then. It was built on the ruins of a neo-Gothic castle. The gardens were created by painter William Stockdale, botanist William Nevill and gardener James Burt. There are a number of different botanical specimens in the palace gardens.
The land on which the palace stands today was originally the property of the Order of Monserrate. In 1790, the English merchant Gerard DeVisme rented the land and built a Neo-Gothic house here. From 1793, the English writer William Beckford lived here. After that, the palace fell into disrepair for a long time. In 1855, Sir Francis Cook bought the house. This English baronet, who was later granted the title of Viscount of Monserrate by King Louis I of Portugal, had a romantic palace built here in 1858, the architect of which was James Thomas Knowles. Since 1949, the palace has been the property of the state.
In 1995, the cultural landscape around Sintra, including the Monserrate Palace and its gardens, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical value.
3 дек 2022
