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Sintra Municipality
Sintra
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Chalet da Condessa D’Edla
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Chalet da Condessa D’Edla

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Chalet da Condessa D’Edla
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#18 of 76 things to do in Sintra
Historic Sites
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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About
To the west, the Park of Pena also contains the Chalet and Garden of the Countess of Edla, recently reopened to the public after a long process of recovery and restoration after the building was destroyed by fire in 1999. The Chalet was built by King Ferdinand II and his second wife Elise Hensler, Countess of Edla, between 1864 and 1869, in keeping with the Alpine chalet model that was in vogue in Europe at that time. The building is extremely picturesque, characterised by the horizontal marking of the external plaster, painted to imitate timber cladding, and by the extensive use of cork as a decorative element, covering door and window frames, eaves and verandas, as well as tree trunks backing onto the facades to support climbing plants.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
241 reviews
Excellent
97
Very good
93
Average
38
Poor
8
Terrible
5
Obypix
Fairfax, VA34 contributions
Nice and unique - a short visit within the Pena Palace grounds
Nov 2019
We decided to walk to the chalet from the Palace - and it is not a short walk by all means (take the tram at least one leg). The walk is nice though through the park and gardens of the grounds and enough to keep it interesting but extends the duration. The Chalet was a nice little house to visit quickly that has gardens around it. The inside of the house was small and you won't spend more than 30 minutes inside to view it. Altogether, this is a nice detour and site off the path worth seeing if you have the time to afford in Sintra. Take the tram to cut the duration and bring your camera as it a nice place to take pictures as it is quite unique house.
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruno_Croatia
Croatia256 contributions
Enjoyed walking to it...
Jul 2017 • Couples
We went to the Chalet on foot from the Pena Palace, it's not very far away and it's all downhill (there is also a bus transport available). All the way you are walking through an amazing park. The Chalet is a small wooden structure, quite pretty. You can go inside but nothing much to see for more than a 10-15 mins. You have to buy a ticket and it costs almost as much as for Pena Palace or Castelo dos Mouros, that I didn't understand why?!
Written July 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RItraveler512
Providence, RI4,365 contributions
Beautiful gardens!
Sep 2018 • Friends
We visited Chalet and gardens in September. The gardens are beautiful. We parked near Chalet and walked to Pena National Palace from here. 45 min walk. On our way back we found a bit shorter way, it was a bit faster. We bought tickets for Pena Palace and Moorish Castle here near Chalet entrance. We liked the place!
Written November 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hapoise
Lisbon, Portugal292 contributions
The love nest of D. Fernando II and the Countess of Edla
Jun 2017 • Couples
Probably the less visited site in Sintra Parks and Palaces, yet deserving an attentive visit due to its originality and uniqueness. The Chalet sits inside Pena´s Park, about 1,5 mile from Pena´s Palace (see picture with map).

Built by King D. Fernando II for his second wife (his first wife was the Queen Maria II) Elise Hensler, the Countess of Edla, a former opera singer. The Chalet is inspired by the architecture of Alpine chalets very much in vogue in the 1860´s. After D. Fernando II death the Countess lived in the Chalet until 1904,year she renounced its use. After that the Chalet has been in abandon until in 1999 when after a fire that almost destroyed the building the Government decided to undergo major reconstruction. In 2011 it finally reopens to the public in all its splendor.

The ticket to visit the Chalet is 2€ and the ticket to visit the Chalet and park is 9,5€.

The materials used in the Chalet´s decoration are mostly wood and cork. The upper floor is not accessible to wheelchair users.

The park surrounding was also designed by D. Fernando and the Countess, importing plants from all over the world, including fetus from New Zealand and Australia. The stables and the greenhouse were also rebuilt.

Horse back ridding and buggy tours are available by appointment (extra cost) inside the park.

So if you have some extra time to spend during your visit to Sintra don´t hesitate you might have a nice surprise.
Written June 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dee G
104 contributions
Quirky and worth the walk
Apr 2016 • Solo
I have never seen a building quite like this one. It's in the Pena Palace parque and I walked it in about 25 minutes from the palace. The red tourist bus also makes a stop if you don't have a car and don't fancy the long walk. There is an extra €2 charge with the small ticket office/shop close by. Work is still ongoing and there is a very interesting leaflet documenting the chalet's restoration.
Written April 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
María Luz E
24 contributions
Worth it
Sep 2015 • Couples
Take your time to visit this small cottage
It burnt down in the 90's you have to see the way they are restoring it
With care and love they are recovering the small challet. It doesn't take long to visit but the workers let you watch how they work and get a small idea of the effort it takes to bring it back to life
Worth the visit
Written September 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shiva G
51 contributions
Actually situated in Pena Park
May 2015 • Couples
Definitely worth visiting Pena Park. It is beautiful. This review is about the chalet in the park. Its not worth paying to go in the chalet as the beauty is in the outside :) There is nothing inside. Hopefully you can see from the photos how beautiful it is.
Sintra is so beautiful and the area round this chalet is amazing. Not many tourists too. Go when it is sunny but not too hot. Enjoy the peace of God whilst sitting on rocks nearby off the beaten path.
Written August 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David
Oxford, UK1,523 contributions
Worth walking to the corner of the Park to visit.
Sep 2020 • Solo
Although you have to pay the entry fee into the Pena Park and make a bit of a trek to visit the Chalet, its certainly worth it.

Impressively restored following neglect and a fire, the chalet has some interesting and informative displays about the Countess and is certainly worth a look around.

Written September 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony B
Los Angeles, CA702 contributions
Pretty, with a view of Pena.
Dec 2019 • Couples
If you have a decent camera with a telephoto lens, you can get nice shots of Pena from within this part of the park. The house is pretty, and the gardens are nice. Unfortunately I had left my camera back in the room.
Written December 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PlanetJM
Havertown, PA57 contributions
Not the original chalet, but if you have time..
Jun 2018 • Solo
I stayed overnight in Sintra and had time to fully explore the grounds of Pena Palace. It's a lovely stroll down to the rebuilt chalet, and the story of the Countess is interesting, but currently, there's very little to warrant paying the additional admission to the chalet. (I was fortunate to find someone's dropped admission pass!)
Written June 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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