Chalet and Garden of the Countess of Edla in Sintra, Portugal

Part of the Park and National Palace of Pena, stumbling upon the Chalet and Garden of the Countess of Edla is like stumbling upon a dream. This yellow cottage in the woods is surrounded by trees and beautiful blooming flowers. In the latter half of the 19th century, King Fernando II and his second wife, Elise Hensler, the Countess of Edla, created this space modeled after the Alpine Chalets which were quite trendy at the time. There was a fire but the park decided to reconstruct the building and restore it to its original state. In 2011, it was reopened to the public. It is designated a Property of Public Interest as of 1993 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site as of 1995. Nearby there are gardens and a horse stables.

The bonus is the carriage ride from the Chalet to the Lakes Valley (closer to an exit) and was something we didn’t even plan on. The tour is about 20 minutes and you can either go for the ride or opt for a guide. The two horses steadily pull the carriage and all of a sudden, the forest seems new again. If you’re so lucky, the driver might invite you to sit at the head of the carriage for conversation and new views. The driver we had the pleasure of riding with had been with the park for over two decades and enjoyed his work with the horses very much.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Travel
Estrada da Pena, 2710-609 Sintra, Portugal
Coordinates: 38.7876° N, 9.3906° W

Cost & Admission

PARK
9:00AM– 7:00PM, last admission in the Park of Pena 6:00PM

CHALET
9:00AM –6:00PM, last admission 5:30PM

Park and Palace Adult (Age 18-64) - €13.30
Park and Palace Youngster/Senior (Age 6-17, 65+) - €11.88
Park and Palace Child (Age 5 and Under) - Free
Tickets can be purchased here.

Food
Food at main palace.

Activities
Exploring, walking, carriage ride.

Tips
Private carriage rides are €75 and require advance booking. The regular carriage ride is €3.5 for adults and €2 for children. There is no prior booking and I bought the tickets at the gift shop right near the Chalet. This is a bargain because we enjoyed the ride with no other customers (practically private) and I was invited to sit in the front with the driver to learn more about the park, his role, and his daily life at the park with the horses.