The Museu Nacional dos Coches brings together a unique collection that shows the technical evolution of the means of transport from animal traction to the automobile. The collection includes more than 78 gala and tour vehicles from the 16th to the 19th centuries from the Portuguese Royal House, the Church and private collections.
The museographic project was non-existent since the inauguration of the new Museu Nacional dos Coches, in Lisbon, in May 2015.
The project includes barriers to protect the coaches, more complete subtitles in four different languages (Portuguese, English, French and Spanish), a virtual view inside the coaches - where it is possible to see all the details -, framing and historical evolution of the model presented and even a video part dedicated to children with the theme “Once upon a time”. The new multimedia projection areas with sound, images and video referring to the period and each salon are also a novelty.
The museum is designed by the Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, winner of the Pritzker Prize in 2006. The construction of a pedestrian crossing over the railway is planned, which will be the last phase of the project. It is also planned that the area dedicated to parking, next to the river, will be remodeled, allowing for an increase in the number of parking spaces.
In 2016, the museum had 592,000 visitors, thus leading the list of entries in national museums. In the first four months of this year, it has already had 150 thousand visitors. The French are the ones who visit this museum the most.
The inauguration is scheduled for tomorrow, May 19, and will be attended by the Minister of Culture, Luís Filipe de Castro Mendes.
The museum reopens to the public on Saturday, May 20th at 10:00 am and will be open until midnight – last entry until 23:00 – with programming alluding to the European Night of Museums. Entrance is free, exceptionally, during this weekend in the two spaces: Museu Nacional dos Coches and Picadeiro Real.