Chalet and Garden of the Countess of Edla

Category: Civil Architecture > Chalet

District: Lisboa > Sintra > Sintra > Serra de Sintra

Location and Setting

The Chalet and Garden of the Countess of Edla are located in Pena Park, near the famous Pena Palace, in Sintra.

They are part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, and are also part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.

History of the Chalet

Built between 1864 and 1869 on the initiative of D. Fernando II, together with his future wife, Elise Hensler, the Countess of Edla, an opera singer of Swiss origin.

The building follows the style of Swiss chalets, a trend of the time in Europe.

The relationship between D. Fernando and Elise was remarkable in Portuguese history, being one of the great romances of the time, although controversial due to their class differences.

Garden and Botany

The garden surrounding the Chalet is rich in exotic botanical species, with emphasis on camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, and a vast collection of ferns from Australia and New Zealand.

Trees from North America were also planted, thanks to the help of John Slade, the Countess's brother-in-law.

Architectural Features

The Chalet is a brick construction, covered in painted plaster to imitate wood.

Decorative elements such as balconies, windows, and handrails are adorned with cork, a natural material very present in the region.

The interior has been restored to reflect the original design, with walls lined and decorated with cork.

Restoration and Recognition

After a period of abandonment and a fire in 1999, the Chalet was restored between 2007 and 2011, with the support of European funds.

In 2012, the restoration project won important awards, including the Tourism Award of Portugal and the European Heritage Award, in the Conservation category.

Curiosities

After the death of D. Fernando II, the Countess inherited Pena Park, but eventually sold the property to the Portuguese State.

With the money from the sale, the Countess financed scholarships for artists and musicians, such as the composer José Vianna da Motta.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalet_and_Garden_of_the_Countess_of_Edla