Portugal is a relatively small country, with a population of about 10.4 million people, which puts it squarely between the US states of Michigan and North Carolina, yet it offers a wealth of attractions that make it a major tourist destination for visitors around the world. Chief among these are its alluringly warm weather, gorgeous beaches, rich cultural heritage, delicious food, and incredibly warm people. A far lesser known, but equally appealing Portuguese destination, at least for hardcore car enthusiasts, is Museu do Caramulo. This is a beautiful car museum in, as the name implies, the village of Caramulo.
The story of how the car museum came into existence is an interesting tale. Caramulo was founded in 1921, under the leadership of Dr. Jerónimo de Lacerda, primarily as a sanitorium resort town. It was ultra-modern for the time, with municipal water, a comprehensive sewer system and waste treatment plant, a hydroelectric power plant, wide streets and sidewalks, and expansive public gardens. Dr. Lacerda’s two sons, Abel and João, understood that the rapid advancement of medical science would eventually render their family’s sanatorium obsolete, so they devised a plan to transform Caramulo into a cultural center capable of attracting tourists from far and wide. To that end, in the 1950s, under the direction of art-loving brother Abel, they built a large art museum in a stunning mountain setting, with panoramic views of the valley below. The museum houses an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, furniture, ceramics, and tapestries that span from ancient Egypt to the 20th century. Then, motivated by car-loving brother João, they constructed another building, adjacent to the first, with space to exhibit about 100 vehicles.
A second museum, which is effectively an extension of the first, was launched on April 23, 2022. Called Caramulo Experience Center (CEC), it’s housed in an industrial building that spans some 26,000 square feet. The CEC perfectly complements the car museum by housing a fully equipped restoration, repair, and maintenance shop, vehicular library, exhibition space and storage area. The CEC is open to the public and is every bit as interesting as the main museum.
As of this writing, the Museu do Caramulo is generally open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm but is closed for a lunch break from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm each day. Hours can vary in accord with the season and special events, so it’s best to check ahead of time when planning your visit. General admission for adults is €9, guided tours are available for €35, and discounted admission is offered for children, students, and seniors. Special exhibits come and go in the art and automobile museums and of course the attractions in the CEC change continuously as restorations and repairs are completed and new ones begin.
Pre-war Bugatti grand prix cars were among the most successful racers of the era. This stunning 1935 Bugatti Type 35 B, powered by a highly sophisticated overhead cam, supercharged 2,262 cc inline 8-cylinder engine, was sold new in Portugal and its first owner, Henrique Lehrfeld, raced it extensively in Portugal, Brazil, Spain, France and the Czech Republic.Photo: Richard Prince
The museum’s collection includes dozens of two- and three-wheel vehicles, including many late-19th and early 20th century bicycles.Photo: Richard Prince
The museum’s collection includes very large and impressively appointed early grand touring cars from a wide variety of manufacturers, including Renault and Rolls Royce.Photo: Richard Prince
This 1899 Peugeot Type 19 enjoys the distinction of being the oldest car in Portugal and the museum staff maintains it in perfect working order. In June 1995 it won the historic Paris-Bourdeaux race for vehicles produced prior to 1900, a 600 km event that commemorates what’s considered by many to be the first organized automobile race in history, held June 13, 1895. It has also successfully competed in the historic London-Brighton race in 1977, 1988, and 2007. This incredibly rare Peugeot is powered by a 1,056 cc two-cylinder engine that produces 5 horsepower and propels the 1,609-pound car to a top speed of about 22 mph. Photo: Richard Prince
A diverse array of automobilia, including driver suits, racing trophies, steering wheels, and high-quality scale models are on display.Photo: Richard Prince
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