Mateus Palace

Mateus Palace is an 18th-century Baroque manor house and estate near the town of Vila Real in northern Portugal, notable for its formal gardens and historic house. The building and grounds date from the first half of the 1700s and are a well-known example of northern Portuguese country architecture.

The current palace complex was constructed in the early to mid-18th century for the local noble family; the design is often attributed to architect Nicolau Nasoni. The house remained a private family estate and later opened parts of the property to the public; its image was later used for the Mateus Rosé wine label, increasing its international recognition.

The estate sits near the village of Mateus in Vila Real District, in the Douro-Lamego region of northern Portugal, within easy driving distance of the city of Vila Real. The landscape around the palace is rural, composed of vineyards and rolling hills.

• Mateus Rosé label: The palace's image appears on the label of the international Mateus Rosé wine brand, which raised the estate's profile worldwide.
• Visiting tips: Guided tours cover the principal rooms, chapel and gardens; spring and early summer show the gardens at their fullest.

What to See #

• Main Palace: Main house dates to the early 18th century and shows a Baroque symmetrical façade with twin towers and a carved central portal; interior contains period rooms and family portraits.
• Gardens and lake: Formal terraced gardens laid out around a reflective lake, with clipped hedges, gravel paths and stone statues forming the principal designed landscape.
• Chapel: Small private chapel attached to the house used by the estate family; retains period decorative features.
• Cellars and outbuildings: Historic wine cellars and agricultural outbuildings on the estate, opened to visitors as part of guided tours and showing traditional wine production tools.
• Library and archives: House library and archival rooms containing family papers and a collection of books and documents related to the estate's history.