Origins and History of the Museum
The National Coach Museum, located in Lisbon, Portugal, traces its origins to the early twentieth century. It was first established in 1905 as the Royal Coaches Museum, known in Portuguese as the Coaches Reaes Museum. This foundation was initiated by Queen Amélia of Orléans and Braganza, who sought to preserve the history of the royal houses of Portugal. The museum was officially opened on 23 May through her initiative.
Following the transition of the monarchy, the institution underwent a change in identity. In 1911, the name was changed to the National Coach Museum. The collection within these walls includes objects from the 16th to the 19th century, including ceremonial and gala vehicles. These pieces were gathered to safeguard the legacy of the Portuguese monarchy and its various equestrian traditions.
The Building and its Architecture
The museum is distributed across two distinct architectural environments. The first is the 1787 Royal Riding School of the Belém Palace, located in Afonso de Albuquerque Square. This original structure was adapted for its current purpose under the supervision of Rosendo Carvalheira. Within this historic space, a visitable exhibition core preserves a selection of coaches, landaus, cavalry accessories, and a painting gallery of the royal family.
The second site is a modern building situated on Avenida da Índia, completed in 2015. This contemporary structure was a collaborative project involving Paulo Mendes da Rocha, the Ricardo Bak Gordon studio, and engineer Rui Furtado. The architecture creates a dialogue between the minimalist lines of the new construction and the historical weight of the objects housed within. The contrast between the modern, white concrete and glass and the Baroque opulence of the carriages defines the physical experience of the space.
The Royal Carriage Collection
The collection comprises approximately 9,000 pieces, including historic horse-drawn coaches and carriages that belonged to the royal houses of Portugal from the 16th to the 19th century. These objects include ceremonial and gala vehicles alongside equestrian accessories. Among the most significant presences is the Coach of Philip II, used during his 1619 visit to Portugal. The collection also contains the Landau from the Regicide at the National Palace of Ajuda, a piece tied to a specific moment in Portuguese history. Other notable items include the Charabanc from the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa and the Sedge dos Óculos.
The variety of the holdings reflects different modes of transport and social functions. Field or hunting carriages from the Museum of Évora are part of this assembly, alongside various other specialized vehicles. Each piece remains a physical record of the movement and status of the Portuguese nobility and royalty through several centuries. The presence of these carriages allows for a direct encounter with the material reality of royal travel and the evolution of carriage building.
