Caramulo Museum
Viseu
The Caramulo Museum, situated in the town of Caramulo within the municipality of Tondela, Portugal, offers a distinctive cultural experience combining fine arts and automotive history. Officially inaugurated in 1959 by President Américo Thomaz, the museum was founded by the brothers Abel and João de Lacerda, who sought to transform Caramulo into a cultural and artistic hub. The museum's art collection features around 500 pieces including paintings, sculptures, furniture, ceramics, and tapestries, spanning from ancient Egyptian artifacts to works by Picasso. Architect Alberto da Cruz designed the museum building with modern museology principles, making it one of Portugal's first purpose-built museums. Adjacent to the art museum is a dedicated building housing approximately 100 vintage cars and motorcycles, including rare vehicles such as António de Oliveira Salazar's official state car and the fully Portuguese-built Alba sports car from the 1950s. The museum is set in a lush mountainous region offering visitors panoramic views over an 80 km valley, enhancing the cultural visit with natural beauty. The Caramulo area itself has a history as a renowned spa and health resort, further enriching the visitor experience with opportunities for leisure activities like cycling and walking in an unspoiled forest environment. The museum is managed by the Fundação Abel e João de Lacerda and remains open year-round, attracting over a million visitors since its establishment.
Planifiez votre voyage en Portugal avec l'IA
Créez un itinéraire détaillé en quelques minutes. L'IA suggère les meilleurs endroits, restaurants et un itinéraire optimisé.
Astuce: Visitors are advised to check the museum's official website for current exhibitions and events, such as classic car festivals and art shows. The best time to visit is during spring and early autumn when the weather is pleasant for exploring the surrounding natural landscape. Advance ticket purchase is recommended for special events or festivals. Discounts may be available for seniors, students, and groups. The museum offers facilities designed for easy access and comfortable visits.
Faits intéressants
- •The museum houses António de Oliveira Salazar's official state vehicle, a rare historical automobile.
- •It contains a fully Portuguese-built Alba sports car from the 1950s, a unique piece of automotive history.
- •The museum was one of the first in Portugal designed specifically as a museum with modern museological concepts.
- •The Caramulo region was historically a major health spa resort with advanced infrastructure for its time, including water supply, sewage treatment, and electricity from a hydroelectric plant.
- •The museum's art collection spans from ancient Egyptian artifacts to works by Picasso, covering a wide historical and artistic range.
Histoire
The Caramulo Museum was founded in the 1950s by Abel and João de Lacerda, sons of Jerónimo de Lacerda who established the Caramulo spa town in 1921.
Abel, an economist and art enthusiast, and João, a medical doctor and automobile aficionado, envisioned transforming Caramulo from a health resort into a cultural destination.
The art museum building, designed by Alberto da Cruz, was inaugurated in 1959 as one of Portugal's first museums built to modern museology standards.
Later, an annex was constructed to house a significant collection of vintage automobiles and motorcycles.
The museum has been privately managed by the Fundação Abel e João de Lacerda since Abel's death in 1957, continuing to develop its collections and cultural offerings.
Guide du lieu
Art Museum Building1959
Designed by architect Alberto da Cruz, this building showcases the museum's extensive art collection of 500 pieces including paintings, sculptures, furniture, ceramics, and tapestries from ancient Egypt to Picasso.
Automobile Museum AnnexPost-1959
An adjoining building dedicated to exhibiting around 100 vintage cars and motorcycles, designed so that vehicles can be easily moved for display and maintenance.
Contact
Téléphone: 232 861 270
