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It has welcomed kings, queens, presidents and even James Bond. The iconic Palácio Estoril Hotel is one of the most important and recognised landmarks along the coast and, in order to celebrate its legacy and memory, inaugurated a new Museum Room in June that opens its doors to a past filled with history and glamour.
Following the creation of the Royal Gallery – a photo exhibition featuring portraits of royalty and heads of state who stayed here – and the Founder’s Gallery – featuring pictures and memorabilia from artists and other figures who passed through the hotel, such as an autograph from Joan Baez or Dušan “Duško” Popov, the secret agent who inspired the creation of James Bond – this new space displays objects such as photographs, crockery, uniforms, news cuttings and books.
Open every day between 08:00 and 20:00 as a permanent exhibition, the new room is the result of a collaboration with the local council. Working from boxes of glass negatives stored at the hotel – mostly dating from the 1930s and 1940s –, the Cascais Municipal Historical Archive (at Casa Sommer) restored and developed the images for the exhibition. “We went there to select what we wanted and later opened this room,” explains Carlos Pissarra, who curated the space. “I created this arrangement with our own selection, which allows visitors to relive the atmosphere of Estoril invented by Fausto de Figueiredo.”
A visionary dream born in 1914
The history of the Palácio Estoril is inevitably intertwined with the invention of Estoril as a luxury destination. Cascais, which in the late 19th century had been the "court town" chosen by King Luís I and Queen Maria Pia, was left somewhat languishing with the fall of the monarchy. It was the entrepreneur Fausto de Figueiredo who saw the potential of the former Quinta do Viana to create a resort of international ambition.
Inspired by the French coastal resort of Biarritz, Figueiredo commissioned the French landscape architect Henry Martinet in 1913 to design a “Maritime, Climatic, Thermal and Sports Station”. “You have to appreciate Fausto de Figueiredo’s courage,” notes Carlos Pissarra during the visit. “Following the Great Depression of 1929, he managed to bring this project to life.”
The structure we know today underwent major transformations over time. In the 1950s, set designer and decorator Lucien Donnat took charge of redesigning the interiors – whose hand-drawn sketches are now on display. In the 1960s, the need to privatise the gardens and build a swimming pool led to moving the main entrance to the east facade.
A refuge for kings, spies and celebrities
During the Second World War, Portuguese neutrality turned Estoril into a cosmopolitan sanctuary. The hotel simultaneously accommodated aristocrats, royal families in exile and spies from both the Allied and Axis powers. Regular guests included double agent Duško Popov and the writer and British intelligence officer Ian Fleming. Inspired by the gaming rooms at the neighbouring Casino Estoril, Fleming created the character of James Bond and the plot of his novel Casino Royale right here.
The connection to the 007 universe was immortalised in 1968 when the hotel served as a filming location for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), starring George Lazenby and Diana Rigg. Several scenes feature the Palácio’s own staff, such as former bellboy Zé Diogo (who still works at the hotel) and receptionist Afonso.
“Royalty distracts people, but James Bond is a living brand. We get bookings and packages just for being the James Bond hotel,” says Carlos Pissarra, revealing that one of his great ambitions is to create a room exclusively dedicated to the secret agent. For now, visitors can step into the Museum Room as if stepping into a time machine, where an old staff uniform featured in the film is also on display.
Rua Particular (Estoril)
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