Short history of “Palácio de Queluz”:
The Palace was a hunting pavilion from the 16th century until Infante Dom
Pedro (1717-1786) changed it into a Palace.
The initial project was trusted to the architect Mateus Vicente de Oliveira.
The works started on 1747 and by 1752 the Chapel, with a lavish rococo
decoration, was complete.
The global project went through several alterations and amplifications
throughout the 18th century.
After a first stage that enlarged the old 16th century residence, where the kitchens are now located, followed
a second stage with the announcement of the marriage of Dom Pedro with his niece and Royal Heir, Maria
(1734-1816) to take place in 1760. Thus, it became necessary to build and furnish rooms befitting a Royal
Palace, in which the French architect Jean-Batiste Robillon, living in Lisbon, had an important role.
The architect Mateus Vicente, called to rebuild Lisbon after the Earthquake of 1755, remained has
superintendent at Queluz but granting the major role to the French architect.
Employing artists, both Portuguese and foreigners, Robillon occupied himself of decorating the most
beautiful spaces – Throne Hall, Music Room and Ambassadors Hall. He added the west wing, now known
has the Robillon Pavilion, and the Lions’ Staircase as a solution to mediate between the Upper Gardens and
the lower “farm”. The geometrical French Gardens, close to the Palace, and the rest of the Park were then
decorated with statues, balustrades, lakes and azulejos (tileworks).
With the departure of the Royal Family to Brazil in 1807, due to the French Invasions, the period of greater
use of the Palace came to an end.
The Royal Court returned in 1821 but the Palace at Queluz only became inhabited again by the exiled Queen
Carlota Joaquina and her sister-in-law, Infanta Maria Francisca Benedita (1746-1829), the “widow princess”,
to whose name a set of rooms is associated.
Dom Miguel (1802-1866) also lived here, while king and during the wars that opposed him and his brother
Dom D. Pedro IV (1798-1834), first Emperor of Brazil. Shortly after his victory, Pedro IV died in the Palace
at the D. Quixote Room, where he had born 36 years before.
Opening hours and Admission fees:
Palace: from 9:00 to 17:00.
Closed on Tuesdays and the following Holidays: January the 1st,
Easter Sunday and the Friday before it, May the 1st, June the 29th
and December the 25th.
At the time this is being written, the price of an ordinary ticket (with
access to both the Palace and the Gardens) is € 5.00.
Admission is free on Sundays and Holidays until 14:00.
About the cache:
The container is not inside the Palace but is to the inside of the Garden Walls.
To solve the mystery you must visit the Palace taking the information below with you (the story is,
obviously, a fiction).
I wish I could duke someone out!
It´s Saturday afternoon and I’m still at the office writing the
report on the “13 Dead End Drive” – that was a real massacre! At
the end, the cat got all the money and I got loads of papers to
file. I cheer myself up thinking of tomorrow afternoon’s match.
The ticket was on the expensive side but I just can’t miss this
derby!
Saturday night. With the report finally finished and my hand a
scant inch from the exit door, I froze as I heard the Chief:
- Inspector Zero... come here!
I turned, despair in my eyes, and went to his office.
- Called Chief?
– Yes. I’ve got a new case for you. Her Highness, the Duchess of
Height charged us of solving two murder cases at the Queluz
Palace. You have to go there, identify the culprits, find the
murder weapon of each crime and the room where it took place.
- Chief, that sounds like Cluedo.
- Zero... don’t say silly things!
- Yes Chief.
– By solving each of the cases, you’ll find clues that will lead
you to the treasure hidden by the victims before they were
killed. That treasure now belongs to the Duchess, the sole heir
of her murdered great-great-great-grandparents: the Duke of
Latitude and the Duchess Longitude.
- Chief, that must have been some two hundred years ago.
- Zero... shut up!
- Yes Chief.
– Her Grace has had investigations made resulting on only four
suspects and four possible weapons to each crime. For either of
the cases, the murder weapon is still in the room where it was
used and in that same room is a picture of the murderer. In this
papers are pictures of the suspects and the possible weapons –
take them with you to the Palace, solve both cases and find the
Duchess’ treasure.
- OK Chief. I’ll go there next Monday.
- You’re going tomorrow morning!
- But Chief, tomorrow’s Sunday.
- Exactly. That way I won’t have to pay for your admission fee.
In the afternoon I want you here, sitting at your desk, writing
the reports on the solved cases.
- The afternoon? Tomorrow? But, but... yes Chief.
I wish I could duke someone out!
*****************************************
The next pages are the ones the Chief gave to Zero.
You must bring them to the Palace with you.
The Duchess Longitude
*****************************************
The Duke of Latitude
The Duchess Longitude was murdered by one of the following suspects with one of the following objects, between
the Throne Room (Sala do Trono) and the Torch Room (Sala da Tocha) – 1st half of the visit to the Palace.
Finding the room with both a suspect and a murder weapon gives you the longitude and half the Hint.
Murder weapons →
Suspects ↓
Tobacco box
(Smoke Kills!)
(poisened)
Tea cups
Jar
Wall Clock
W 9º 15.664
W 9º 15.588
… push.
… stretch your arm.
W 9º 15.615
W 9º 15.637
… search with your
eyes.
… feel around.
W 9º 15.637
W 9º 15.664
… search with your
eyes.
… feel around.
… push.
W 9º 15.637
W 9º 15.664
W 9º 15.588
… search with your
eyes.
… feel around.
… push.
… stretch your arm.
W 9º 15.637
W 9º 15.664
W 9º 15.588
… feel around.
… push.
… stretch your arm.
Countess of East
W 9º 15.588
… stretch your arm.
W 9º 15.615
Lady Greenwich
W 9º 15.615
Madame du Sud
General West
W 9º 15.615
… search with your
eyes.
The Duke of Latitude was murdered by one of the following suspects with one of the following objects, between the
Torch Room (Sala da Tocha) and the Queen’s Dressing Room (Toucador da Rainha) – 2nd half of the visit to the Palace.
Finding the room with both a suspect and a murder weapon gives you the latitude and half the Hint.
Suspects →
Murder weapons ↓
Ambassador of
Equador (Equator)
Baron of the North
Marquise du
Méridien
Doctor Parallel
N 38º 45.100
N 38º 45.122
N 38º 45.007
N 38º 45.029
By the bush …
Squat down and …
Sit down and …
At the top …
N 38º 45.122
N 38º 45.007
N 38º 45.029
N 38º 45.100
Squat down and …
Sit down and …
At the top …
By the bush …
N 38º 45.007
N 38º 45.029
N 38º 45.100
N 38º 45.122
Sit down and …
At the top …
By the bush …
Squat down and …
N 38º 45.029
N 38º 45.100
N 38º 45.122
N 38º 45.007
At the top …
By the bush …
Squat down and …
Sit down and …
Toothpick holder
Gambling table
Fan
Dogs
The Farstriders