National Coach Museum

The National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches) houses an important horse-drawn carriage collection of vehicles from the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth century.

The Museum is housed in an old riding school and was inaugurated on May 23rd, 1905 by Queen Amélia of Orleans and Bragança, the Princess of France married to King Carlos I of Portugal. Nowadays, it is one of the most popular museums in Lisbon.

Notable Horse-Drawn Carriages

The Museu Nacional dos Coches features some extremely noteworthy horse-drawn vehicles, especially those that belonged to Philip II of Spain (1581 – 1598). They are the oldest in the collection. The Museum also includes three carriages that belonged to Pope Clement XI. The vehicles were constructed in Rome in 1715 and were designed in a Baroque Italian style. One of these three coaches stands out, given to John V of Portugal (photo on the right).

The Museum also holds several paintings and other interesting objects from the same period.

Well Worth Visiting

The National Coach Museum is small but unique and charming. It is well worth visiting. This museum is one of the most surprising in Lisbon.

It is located very close to the Jerónimos Monastery.