Mannheim Palace, the center of power of Estefânia's grandmother. Another episode of The Places in This Story, by Isabel Stilwell

The eldest daughter of the Princes of Hoenzhollern-Sigmaringen was born at the country house of Krauchenwies on 15 July 1837, and her godparents were the King of Prussia and her grandmother, Stephanie Napoleon von Baden, from whom she inherited her name. Two months older than her future husband, she was chosen by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who saw the princess as the ideal wife for their brilliant and melancholic nephew, whom they loved so much.

This video and podcast series, made in partnership with VISÃO, is also an incentive for you to pack your bags and go see these places with your own eyes.

Mannheim Palace

The grandeur and wealth of the Mannheim Palace help us understand the world that Estefânia lived in before arriving in Lisbon in May 1858, already married by proxy and already Queen of Portugal. This was the residence of her powerful and determined grandmother and godmother, Stephanie Beauharnais “Bonaparte”, Grand Duchess of Baden, Napoleon’s “adopted” daughter, who left an indelible mark on her granddaughter, to whom she was very close. Estefânia spent long periods here, in a court that was passionate about music and art, but also about politics, in “salons” where women’s rights were a very present theme. Construction of Schloss Mannheim began in 1720, hosting the prince-electors of the Palatinate, and an Opera House was later added, as well as a wing dedicated to the arts and sciences. It became the property of the Duchy of Baden in 1802 and the residence of Estefânia's grandmother between 1819 and 1860. Badly damaged during World War II, it was rebuilt in exact accordance with the Empire style in which the Duchess decorated it, which allows us to relive the time when our Queen lived there - her portrait in the private room of the Duchess, who died a year after her beloved granddaughter, is a testament to her proximity.