Museu Aristides de Sousa Mendes – Casa do Passal
Museum in the family house of the consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes, in Cabanas de Viriato, devoted to his act of conscience in 1940 and to the families he saved.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Casa do Passal, in Cabanas de Viriato, is the family home of the diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes. It was built in the 19th century, extended in the first decades of the 20th century, and classified as a National Monument in 2011. During the Second World War it housed some of the refugees saved by the consul in the summer of 1940.
Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Portugal’s consul in Bordeaux, issued thousands of visas in 1940 to refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, against the orders of Salazar’s government. The Fundação Aristides de Sousa Mendes, created in 2000, oversaw the restoration of the house and the promotion of his legacy.
The museum opened on 19 July 2024, after renovation works led by the architects Rosmaninho + Azevedo. It is under the responsibility of Carregal do Sal Municipal Council, with the Fundação Aristides de Sousa Mendes and the Sousa Mendes Foundation as partners. The route occupies nine thematic rooms and includes testimonies from descendants of the families who were saved.
Highlights
- Family home of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a National Monument since 2011
- Route of nine rooms on the consul, the historical context and the exodus of 1940
- Testimonies from the families of refugees who were saved
- Stories of other Portuguese who rescued Jews during the Second World War
- Surrounding garden and auditorium
Permanent exhibition
- Percurso expositivo permanente – Nine thematic rooms on the house and the Sousa Mendes family, Aristides’s consular career, the context of 1940, the exodus, the trial and the rehabilitation of his memory, with testimonies from the families who were saved.
- Founded
- 2024
- Operated by
- Município de Carregal do Sal
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50Persons aged 65 and over, pensioners under 65, holders of a student card, families (up to 2 adults and children up to age 24) and members of local associations in the municipality |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Free admission for children and young people up to and including age 18, upon proof. |
| Seniors | €2.5050% discount from age 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for persons with a proven disability of 60% or more, or with special needs, and one companion. |
| Students & apprentices | €2.5050% discount with a student card. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4 per personGroup ticket for 10 or more people: €4. |
| Families | €2.5050% discount per person for up to 2 adults and children up to age 24. |
| Guided tour (minimum 10 people) | €7.50By booking 48 hours in advance; lasts about 1 hour. |
Free admission: Last Sunday of each month (October to May) for Portuguese citizens and residents of Portugal, with citizen card; International Museum Day; International Day for Monuments and Sites.
Prices as set in the municipal notice of Carregal do Sal Municipal Council in force since 7 January 2025. Free admission also for unemployed persons resident in Portugal and other groups listed in the notice.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum has a merchandise shop, a documentation centre and an auditorium.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The auditorium can be used for €100 for up to 3 hours and €30 for each additional hour, according to the municipal notice.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The free visit includes an introduction by a museum staff member. Guided tours and group visits require booking by email or telephone, 48 hours in advance; payment is made at reception. |
