Designed by Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni and completed in 1744, Casa de Mateus stands as a masterpiece of Baroque architecture, both inside and out. It showcases hallmark features of Baroque design—ornate detailing, dramatic façades, symmetry, and grand elegance.
As you walk down the graceful entrance path, a serene reflecting pool unveils the estate’s elaborate façade, beautifully framed by meticulously landscaped gardens—like a scene from a storybook. On still days, the mirror-like water offers a flawless reflection of the palace’s intricate details, adding to the enchantment of the experience.
We visited on March 20, 2025, en route to the Douro Valley, and joined a guided tour of the estate and a private winery tour by our guide. Inside, the palace unfolds in a series of richly appointed rooms filled with furnishings spanning from the 17th to the 20th century—evoking the grandeur of French châteaux. Highlights include a 6,000-volume library, a fascinating religious museum filled with sacred relics, and the exquisite chapel of Our Lady of Pleasures.
Casa De Mateus Religious Museum
The religious museum at Casa de Mateus features a varied collection of Catholic artifacts collected over generations. Among the displays are reliquaries containing bone fragments and other sacred items, as well as liturgical objects such as chalices, candlesticks, and embroidered vestments. The collection also includes religious paintings, books, and devotional items that reflect the Mateus family’s long-standing ties to the Church. Together, these pieces offer insight into the spiritual traditions and cultural history of the region.
The gardens at Casa De Mateus
The gardens at Casa de Mateus have been reimagined across centuries, blending historical influences with evolving tastes. They reflect the spirit of formal garden design—symmetry, structure, and serene beauty. Sculpted hedges, flowering paths, and quiet green corners create an atmosphere of elegance and calm, offering visitors a graceful marriage between nature and architecture.
Casa De Mateus Winery
The estate remained in the same family for twelve generations, up until 1970. The Mateus winery, located on the grounds of the Casa de Mateus estate, has deep roots in the region’s winemaking tradition, with origins dating back to the 16th century. Though best known internationally for the iconic Mateus Rosé, the estate also produces a variety of red and white wines using grapes from the surrounding Douro region. The winery blends historic methods with modern techniques, emphasizing quality and regional character.
Planning Your Visit
Casa de Mateus is located in Mateus(vila Real) in Northern Portugal’s Douro region. It is open every day offering tastings of its wine, beer, olive oil, and jams. A variety of guided and audio tours are available, covering the interior, winemaking, museum, chapel etc. The estate also hosts art exhibits, cultural seminars, and concerts throughout the year. Visit their events calendar for the most up-to-date information.
References Mateus Palace
- Hiking the dramatic cliffs of Ponta Da Peidade
- A memorable day in the heart of Douro Valley
- Tomar Castle: Walk in the Legendary Footsteps of the Knights Templar
- Casa de Mateus: A Baroque Masterpiece in the Heart of Portugal’s Wine Country, Portugal
- Bom Jesus do Monte
The way you captured Casa de Mateus — its Baroque elegance, the reflecting pools, the centuries-old gardens — is absolutely extraordinary! This post really shines because it doesn’t just describe a place; it pulls you into the experience. I could almost feel myself walking down that entrance path, heart sparkling at the sight of the façade mirrored in still water, as though stepping into a living storybook.
It instantly brought to mind the Kathmandu–Pokhara–Chitwan tour in Nepal. Much like Casa de Mateus, this journey blends history, culture, and breathtaking scenery. Kathmandu, with its intricate temples and lively streets, feels as rich and layered as the palace interiors and religious collections you described. Pokhara, especially from the mountain lodges at Sarangkot, offers that same sense of serene beauty — an astonishing mountain view that takes your breath away the way the gardens of Casa de Mateus must in spring. And Chitwan, with its deep connection to tradition and nature, mirrors the feeling of walking through vineyards with centuries of stories behind them.
Your post is more than information — it’s an invitation to feel, to connect, to imagine. It makes the heart sparkle with the reminder that places like this — whether in Portugal or Nepal — are extraordinary not just for their beauty, but for the way they touch us.