Inside A 500-Year-Old Palace On The Verge Of Collapse

Behind the silence of this abandoned palace, lies a world that has barely been disturbed. And today, we are stepping into it. Imagine the times that went on here. Generations once passed through these rooms, and their faces are still watching over them today. Really, a rich piece of Portuguese heritage that is just left to fade into oblivion. But while its contents survived, the house around them did not. Today, we're exploring this abandoned Portuguese palace before even more of it is lost. Welcome back everybody to a brand new season of Abandoned Portugal, and you won't believe the place that you're going to see today. This is top 5 material that I've seen in Portugal, but with danger for our own life, we're going to explore this place today. This is a video that's going to be worth watching, that's all I'm going to say. I'm going to be very careful walking here since the wood is very rotten, and the place really is beyond repair. There's still an old stove here, and part of the ceiling is really coming down. First thing here is this really beautiful corner cabinet, and you almost don't see this anywhere else in the south of Europe. There are still a few old bottles in here. Probably maybe vinegar or liquor used to go in here. But then, if you look at the bottom, you can tell that woodworm is also starting to damage all the furniture. But the damage doesn't stop there, because you're about to see how the entire structure of this palace is starting to collapse. Let's firstly go inside this room here. As you can tell, it's a quite bare and empty room, but we still have an Oliva sewing machine standing in the corner. I'm curious what's inside. A cabinet. Nothing. Not a lot of cobwebs, but that's everything. And then, over here, the window actually offers a really scenic view of the landscape where we are right now. It's absolutely stunning. This would make such a beautiful place to live, and it's so sad that such a piece of history is now just fading into oblivion. This is a little rather more modern. Okay, let's go inside this room right now. Actually, the first kitchen of the place is a very basic kitchen. I think this was kind of a servant kitchen. Just the old faucets over here with a scenic view of this incredible and stunning landscape. Oh! Is this leading to the basement? Okay, I'm curious. Let's have a peek down here. There are also some old bottles over here. This is old water. Radioactivas? What? And, strangely enough, I had read the label correctly. This mineral water was actually sold as radioactive because in the early 20th century, naturally-occurring radon in mineral springs was believed to have health benefits, and companies proudly advertised it. I've not seen the basement so far, honestly. Kind of missed out on it. Over here's actually an area where they used to store their food products behind all the metal grids. And yeah, this is a very tiny part of the basement. It's bigger, but I don't know where we can enter the rest. Let's head back up again right now. In this extremely aged building. Okay, this is just the start. Let's head to this part. This is really an inviting part, as you can tell. The stairs, everything, the woodwork, typical for Portugal. You see a lot of woodwork in these homes and a lot of stone integrated as well. And that's what we see over here. But what's following now, you're not going to believe your eyes when I open this door. I have to be brutally honest, I missed out on this. Kato told me that this is here. Kato is a good friend of mine from Spain, who you might recognize from some of our previous adventures. And he's the one filming today's journey here with me in Portugal. I'm not sure if I can go down here, but if you can give me the camera. Wow! So, this is like a really little chapel. Stone chapel. Genuinely old. And this is where the story of the palace really begins. Records trace the estate back to 1542, when a woman named Catarina de Chaves established a protected family property here, designed to remain together and pass from one generation to the next. Just five years later, in 1547, this stone chapel was built. The estate became what the Portuguese call a solar, an ancestral home belonging to an important family. And remarkably, that family legacy survived here for centuries. Okay, there's water everywhere. Incredible to see how the greenery is actually taking over. Slowly growing inside. And there's even a vintage coffee grinder. Really rusty. Okay, I'm going to head up the stairs. As I step up, I can feel the wood cracking beneath my feet. Really dodgy stairs. They're in a really bad state. The case of a former grandfather clock that used to be in here, but, as you can tell, it's missing. It's not there anymore. Also, these really old maps. Algarve... Ah, okay, I see it now. So, this is Portugal, and over here is Andalusia. Really old maps. Okay, I'm gonna head to the next room. And this is, again, unbelievable. The decay... Wow! We've got two very old beds over here. There's also an iron bedstead standing over here, but one part of this room is already collapsed. A beautiful bed frame with the embroidered pattern in the center, and then, the nice intricate carvings on top. You see this a lot in Portugal. And this one is completely different again, but we've seen one with this style before as well. As you can tell, it's in a very poor state. I'm not even gonna touch it anymore. And that's an interesting point that I wanted to tell you. Obviously, I've been in America for 8 months for exploring, and a lot of the homes over there are also constructed out of wood. But right now, you see the difference of the wood that they use for the American homes and for the European homes. This wood was very durable, and of course, in America, in the Victorian homes, you see this as well. But in the more basic homes, it decays very quickly, and this has been abandoned for decades. In places like this, electricity is usually one of the first things to disappear. But for me, the day does not end when I leave. Every camera battery has to be charged, every file backed up, and hours of footage has to become the film that you are watching. And that is exactly why this video is sponsored by Zandier. This hotel room is my stop for tonight. Here I charge my gear, pack up the footage, and begin editing before the next exploration. So, while there is still daylight, I'm setting up the SoloFlow 2400 Pro. These panels collect solar energy, and the system stores it for later. When I return tonight, we'll test how much of my usual workflow that stored energy can handle. And the setup itself is surprisingly straightforward. These solar panels connect directly to the system to charge it, while the SoloFlow can also connect to a standard household socket as part of the property's existing electrical system. No major construction or rewiring needed. So, while the sun does its work, let's continue deeper into the palace. Okay, so, currently, we're gonna need to make a quite dodgy passage. As you can tell, right over here, it's in a very bad state. Okay, this part is stone, so over here we are good to go. But the next part is maybe even dodgier. This entire floor is gone. But then, we have an incredible dining room. Wow! And on the left side, there are even still two guns hanging on the wall as decoration. As you can tell, everything is pristinely left on these shelves. I think this is even some liquor from Portugal. Vino do Porto, yes. This used to be a lamp, probably, hanging on the wall, a little chandelier. And in here, you can tell that even all the cutlery is left. Well, of course, the carvings are beautiful. And what's interesting with these drawers is, if you close them, over here was actually a key in the center, and it was like a central key for both of the drawers. So, you were able to close them at the same time. This used to be on here, but it's fallen down. And look over here! These are even dragons. Dragons that are uncarved on the side. Also, a beautiful wooden ceiling. It's unbelievable to see a place like this in such a decayed state. As you can tell, all the glasses are still in there. There are barely any dust marks, so this is exactly left as the former occupants left such a long time ago. And even here, the dragons are coming back in the carved design. Have you seen that in the corner? There is actually a little washing sink. Have a gaze! A stone washing reservoir. This little stone basin was most likely a dining room lavabo. In old Portuguese noble homes, washing your hands after a meal was part of the dining ritual, and even royal palaces had them. On the wall, there is also this thing that was. Maybe for a towel. And then, even over there, the jugs for when they wanted to collect water over the faucet door. The plumbing was not working. But now, let's head to the rest of the home we're entering. Another beautiful space, a little bit more minimal, less details, but still, a very old space. And as you can tell, there are still a lot of keys hanging up here. Bigger keys. Probably for old doors in this place. Wow! It's all so completely covered in dust. This is even still full. I think it's some kind of oil or something. Alright, well, then, over here in this space, I think this is a little storage part. I see a dartboard over there. There is this really old box with a key. No way! It's full of vintage medicine bottles and also some grooming products from old pharmacies. Look at this, guys, pharmacies. All still here. So, this used to be their medicine box. Look at even the ampoules of medicine that are still in here. Really unbelievable. Look at this. I think these also used to be from carriages. I'm not sure, 100%, but I think they were. With a light bulb, with a candle, it's quite funny. Back in the hotel, nearly every battery of that day is empty. But the solar energy collected earlier is now stored in the Solo Flow and ready to use. So, I charge the cameras and the drone, copy the footage to my storage drive, and continue editing on the laptop. Now, beyond my own equipment, the system is used for everyday energy use around a property as well. Like a fridge or a water cooker. The Solo Flow 2400 Pro supports up to 3000 watts of solar input. It starts at 2.4 kWh of storage and can expand up to 16.8 kWh if more is needed. In this Endure app, I can see what the panels produced, how much energy is stored, and how much energy the system is using. Its home energy management system automatically manages when that energy is stored and used. So, I can focus on the footage while everything else runs in the background. Oh my lord! Okay, this is as far as I can walk, but we have a very old chest over here. You can see some upholstery, and it says B.L.T.A. So, that maybe has to do something with the family. And I may actually be right. More than three centuries after Catarina de Chaves established this estate, the family living here became connected through marriage to another prominent Portuguese family. One of them was Bernardo de Lemos Teixeira de Aguilar, whose initials perfectly match the letters B.L.T.A. on this chest. His daughter later married into the family that owned this palace, and all leather chests like this were often decorated with the initials of their owners. So, while we cannot prove it, this may have once belonged to Bernardo himself, or at least to his branch of the family. Honestly, this place is in a very bad state, but it's a miracle it's still standing. And also, even a bigger miracle that we get to see and witness it today and share it with all of you. Two really old frames on the wall. This was a holy person. Oh, and look over here. Wow! Imagine the times that went on here. This photo may even have been taken inside the library we're about to see in just a little bit. Also, look at this dresser over here. We have a baby photo, completely faded, and another really old frame. And I guess over here they just used to hang something up. Not sure what, because the coat would be too long. Lastly, this is a leather upholstery chair. You can see a coat of arms integrated in its design. Now we're gonna enter, maybe... And guys, I know you love kitchens, but this is, maybe for me, the most special kitchen I've ever seen. So, stay tuned! First of all, an extremely rusty refrigerator. There's even a gold ball over here. Wow! Bro! All the glasses and mugs are completely covered in dust again. They're all still left. A lot of things that they used for baking, cakes, and everything. It's unbelievable how untouched this place has remained over the past decades. Okay, now I actually also want to see the final one. Hmm, just some plates and some bowls. But you can tell that everything was really left here. And how cute are these little laces over here that they used to put in front for covering it up. Wow! Oh, look at the clock painted in the same color. This is a really unique one. I've never seen one like this. Wow! And this was their little corner. Oh, bro, okay, honestly, I'm gonna tell you one thing. I hate doing the dishes, and I'm really happy that we have a dishwasher at home. But over here, I would really not mind at all to do the dishes every single day. Imagine you stand here in front of that washing sink, and then, you just have the serenity over here of the countryside. It's incredible, really incredible. The door over here is even almost falling out. Okay, I'm gonna be careful to see if there is nobody in the farming field or anything. But over here is a little balcony, and then, they used to have a toilet over here as well. And then, when you finish the dishes, just standing here for a little while, sinking it in with the beautiful nature over here, would have been such a blessing. It's so sad that this place never saw a new life, honestly. Here, I find another clue to the palace's past. An inscription that appears to read 1831, most likely marking when this part of the kitchen or fireplace was rebuilt. And look at the columns. Unbelievable. Really, one of the most special kitchens I've ever seen. Over there was kind of like a stone oven, I would say. And they probably used to hang a kettle up right over here. And then, there is even another space. This was probably once a part where they used to have dinner. And if you can peek through it, you can tell that we cannot really explore that space anymore because the entire ceiling actually came down. But I think the servants made the dishes, put them through the window, and then, the former occupants, the noble people that once lived there, they could enjoy the meals. And that's how it was in the past. Oh! Have you seen how high this goes? Wow! What a sacred place, in my opinion. I'm going to try to touch fragile things as little as possible. Okay, we're going to continue through the corridor over here. And this corridor used to be another entrance to the home. As you can tell, it's very old. We still have a wooden bench standing here. A really old one. This old cabinet once carried electricity through the house. And now, I barely want to touch it. And that contrast matters because with any home energy system, power is only useful if the system around it also feels safe. The SoloFlow 2400 Pro is built to remain outside with IP65 protection against rain and dust and self-heating technology for colder conditions. It also includes Sengur's built-in fire protection system. And when the grid goes down, its 2400 VA backup output can keep selected essential devices running. What I personally like is that this isn't something designed for only an occasional trip. It can become part of a property storing solar energy during the day and making it available later. Exactly when I return with empty batteries, and we're still ahead. So, if you're interested in seeing whether a setup like a SoloFlow 2400 Pro could work for your own home, I've left a link at the top of the description and in the pinned comment. And, of course, by using that link, you support the channel and help make future explorer explorations possible. So, right now, you are going to see one of my favorite rooms, I think. It's a library. And there's this billiard-like game that I've never seen before. But Gato has seen this before in Spain, where he lives in very old bars. It's a very traditional game, a very particular one. And this is the library. An incredible ceiling as well. Even windows integrated. The light fixture over here in the center. And this is the game. With the ball still here, the sticks where they used to play with, there were holes in the table, and the score used to be counted right over there at the scoreboard. The game we're looking at here is actually called Russian billiards. Historically known in Portugal as La Rajinha de Sala. This table likely dates from around the year 1900, making it well over 100 years old. Players used the cue to sink the balls into different scoring holes across the table, each worth a different number of points. Wow. There are no windows anymore in these doors. Let's see what books. We have viticulture, modern. So, modern viticulture. We have dictionaries, contemporary dictionaries. France, so it's probably about France. I see 1947 over here. There are some old volumes between here, I can tell you. And... Don Pedro de Alcantara. He was the future king of Portugal and first emperor of Brazil. But remarkably, the family that later inherited this palace had its very own history with him, dating back to the struggles surrounding Brazil's independence. Later in the video, we'll come back to how that family eventually became connected to this palace. Another chest with upholstery. These are all laces and drapes that used to hang up somewhere. Wow. This was a corset or at least a part of it. You can tell it's ripped. What on earth is this? No clue. It's a part of something. Okay, let's briefly show you this. There are actually two bathrooms with pink-purple tiles. You can tell the window is just wide open, so the elements are also just coming inside. It's really neglected, really neglected. Would this be a really old family photo? Look on top. Probably military nobility. Over here's a painted portrait of one of the other family ancestors, most likely. All these historical mementos that are still displayed over here in these frames. It's incredibly preserved history. Really, a rich piece of Portuguese heritage that is just left to fade into oblivion. And it's hard to believe. Curious. Was this like a vault? It was. With an alphabetic code. The lock even. Oh my lord! We are really exploring a museum today. It's just a piece of family history that is gone. It's gone. I find it really sad. Given that they were so important back in their time, it teaches you time is elusive. And this is another bathroom with beautiful traditional tilework. White, blue, and yellow. A color scheme that you often see in the south of Europe. Okay, I think you're loving the place so far, but the best is yet to come. We're gonna enter the first space. This one is already incredible on its own. What a giant and tall room with the ceiling. And you can see a family coat of arms right over there. Wow. We have some more family photos on this tiny dresser. From a girl in her younger years and a woman. And actually, what I think is that the woman we see here in the frame is probably taken in the garden and this was her in her younger days. And if we pay attention to the button, these are like animal paws or something. At least, they look like it. As if they are animal paws that they made here. It's really unique to see. Yet another corner cabinet. Wow! And this was their liquor cabinet. Oh, and look at the portraits above me. More noble people of the four families are on display over there as well. Also, gotta give credit to the Dutchies. Philips, a Dutch brand. It's been going around for quite some years. This is still a vintage television they once made. And standing on top of a chest, I think you need a key for it. 1, 2, 3... Wow, this is unique. Really unique. Santa Cecilia. This is made inside the room. Blue and white religious tiles like this were once common in Portuguese noble homes. And this one may date back to the 18th century. Santa Cecilia was the patron saint of music. We don't know why the family chose to honor her here. But as we move deeper into the palace, we'll find several clues that music may have been an important part of life inside these walls. This man got a lot of medallions. So, you can tell the importance of the people that are displayed over here. And somehow, they had a relation with this noble family that lived there. So many questions like why would a place like this end up so far. I might understand there's no money, but you can at least empty it out. Even if there's a dispute in the family. Might be legal trouble and legal issues. But that's probably the most likely reason and assumption for why this is all left behind. But I would at least store it in a warehouse and preserve it. This is a very typical chair. Not often seen one like that. Okay, I believe this is from the year 2000. So, if that's the last date, this place has been abandoned for 25 years. And that's a long time. Especially over here in this part of Portugal where there's a humid climate and a lot of rainfall every year. Another beautiful portrait of a woman. And some more frames. Another really beautiful clock. It's all standing over here on a fireplace mantel. You can still see the last burning wood inside the fireplace. This is a typical bench for southern Europe. We've often seen them in Portugal, but also in Spain. I've almost never seen these in France. And this over here is all wicker. So, wicker and wood. And then, the particular shape of it. And, of course, the red color. It's something you often see in the south of Europe. This might be a jewelry box. Oh no! Hey! Okay, there's a game. All these numbers. 20 over here. These tokens are old game-encounters, most likely belonging to a game called FOTARETE. One of Portugal's most popular card games during the 18th and 19th centuries. Players used counters like these to keep track of their score. And wealthy Portuguese families even kept them in elaborate lacquered boxes, just like this one. An old frame. And right over here... Oh, look! It's actually for a game of checkers. Again, the man is coming back. We've seen him three times now. This is completely oxidized, so there was copper integrated in this clock. Seeing all these different faces in this room, you start to realize just how many generations passed through this palace. After Catarina de Chaves, the estate remained within her family line for centuries. And by the 1800s, it had passed to a man named Cristóvão, who became the 11th holder of the estate and was later granted the title of Viscount. After him, his daughter Inácia inherited the family legacy. And through her marriage to José Maria, the 5th Count of Avilés, a new name entered the story of this palace. From then on, the house became known as the home of the Counts of Avilés. Now, look at this corridor that's about to follow. There are books scattered across the ground. A lot of historical events. And this is probably how they gained their wealth. The military nobility, the entire family lineage. They fought in wars and conquered in wars. Incredible to imagine the history that has gone on here. Wow! Some blankets with a lot of white mold. And look, there are even mushrooms or something growing there. Okay, I'm gonna open the doors since this room is absolutely incredible. We have a four-poster bed. We have a ceiling that is nearly collapsing when we walk inside here right on our head. And even on the ground, we really have to be mindful where we step. Wow! This is incredible! Look at the carvework of the headboard of the bed. It is unbelievable. Unbelievable. This used to be for, I think, a Jesus statue or at least a religious statue. I think they were believers of Christ. Also, with all the religious artifacts that we find in this place. And if you look on the sides, it's really unique. And actually, I'm not sure if you know, Gato, but this is a bed warming pan. So, what they used to do, it's quite heavy, but they used to fill this with hot coals from the fireplace, lift the lid up until hot coals are inside, and then they would place that right under the bed in order to have a nice warm and damp bed. So, in the winters, you won't be cold. Oh my, I'm not touching that. It's a miracle, guys. It's not the second time I say it, but it's a miracle that we still get to witness this. Maybe in a year, the ceiling has collapsed. Or even the floor and the bed are just right inside the basement. Wow! I think some cowrags or something. And also, the paintwork on the sides. I really like the details. They paid a lot of attention to this room. So, I think the person that slept here was one of the more important people. It's from another occupant that most likely lived in this property. Have you seen that nightstand? I've never seen one in this shape. Really unique. Over here on the doorknob, you can actually see something you often see in France. But in France, it's usually actually at the edge of the banister when you walk up a staircase. Oh, the floor is cracking. We have to get out of here. More historical frames. This could have been Napoleon. He looks a lot like him. But I think he's a little bit bigger. I think this is really from 1600. Really long ago. Okay, let's head inside another room. This was another bedroom. Luckily, the floor is in a slightly better shape than the previous bedroom. But it's also less elegant. The mold growth is crazy over there. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but this over here are, again, giant shrooms that are growing here. It's crazy, right? There was so much mold inside. There's not really anything left. But if we turn around, this is absolutely precious. A wonderful oriental-style cabinet or dresser, maybe I should say. And there's a lot of really precious paintwork with birds, with flowers, golden ornate prints, details, and patterns. Wow! The interior shelves have collapsed. Even over here, we have one of these carriage lamps. This one is really unique. I've never seen one in that color. Okay, finally, on this wing of the mansion, we have a really spacious bedroom. Really spacious one. I think this one was for the children. And I'm going to explain why I think that in a bit. Over here in the corner was a little washing sink integrated in this dresser with a marble plate. And then, this was the washing bowl. And that's why they also used these jugs. Oh, a really vintage telephone book. Philips is coming back again. Wow! This looks like straight from a medieval castle. It's a wardrobe with some clothes hooks right inside. Look at the horse saddle over here, and look at the size of the legs. This was for a child. Feet used to go in here, and this is really child-sized. Also, over here's a sign that they were believers of Christ. We can see Jesus also on the cross. The crucifix is hanging right on the wall. We have the sconce and the other sconce completely falling down and still tangling on one cable. Okay, so, we're going to walk to the corridor and you're going to see, for me, the two most incredible rooms that this place has to offer. Honestly, there are a few things I really love in this place. And there are also a few things that Kato really loves in places. Let's say both of our interests combine here, because I love portraits and he loves pianos. Okay, guys, so, I scared for a little while. The farm around this building is still used, and that guy just came to the garden. So, I have to be really... Oh, I hear him! Okay, I have to be really quiet right now. We're going to enter the next room, and that's the best room in my opinion. Okay, at the portraits. Big portraits. Very majestic ones. Check out the rotary phone right on top of this side table and two pocket chairs. This part of the floor is completely collapsed. Also, the ceiling over here, bro. Completely a ticking time bomb. And right above us is again a family coat of arms. This was once the main entrance of this property. Currently barricaded. Not just to keep intruders out, but also for the sake of people's security and safety. Because if you step in here, you can have a big drop down. And because of all the debris, you can't properly see it, but trust me, the basement is definitely going down a few meters. And look at the doorpost over here. Wow! With the woodwork, the crown, and this castle tower emblem. Now, we have two more portraits over here. It's really like I'm just in a museum and looking to members of the Portuguese royal family. So dignified. All this discarded opulence just in one room. And here's an incredible player piano. Still, keys are working. At least, some of them. The last pieces of sheet music. Oh, and look at this! You could close it like this, but that's not the only thing. Look behind it too. Look what's laying on top. It's actually a drape. Wow! This is what I meant when maybe some of these drapes used to hang in front of the walls. Actually, we're also going to leave the piano like this, because at least it's more protected in that case. I was saying, this room is taking time, and especially this cabinet that's already completely skewed. And in a few months, maybe a year, it will just level with the ground. And then, finally, another wonderful and grand portrait of this man. Okay, time for the very last room in this place. As you can tell, the farmer actually brought his dog, who's currently parking outside. We don't want to draw attention and get out here inconspicuous. So, let's enter through the doorpost, and we're gonna see the very last room. Look at this! Wow! This is so unique. The carvings of the bed, the color of the walls, and the color of the ceiling as well. I think this portrait might have been in the main room one day, because it's a strange place for a portrait. I'd rather expect a mirror or something over here. Look at this beautiful secretary over here. This was a part of an oil lamp. Over here, more keys and an integrated cabinet. Then, let's walk through here. Yeah, it's again, of course, a very unique bed with incredibly intricate carvings, like we often see. Finally, there's a giant wardrobe, and because of time's passage, the mirror has completely fallen down. And in a way, that fallen mirror feels like the perfect final image of this palace. We've walked through centuries of family life. Portraits, books, games, and music, all still waiting inside the rooms they once filled. But the building around them is giving away. Floors have collapsed, ceilings are falling, and without intervention, more of this history will disappear. For generations, this palace carried one family story forward. And it goes to show that a palace can survive centuries of history and still disappear in just a few years of neglect.