Casa Sommer in Cascais

Casa Sommer is a neoclassical house in the centre of Cascais, on the Portuguese Riviera. Today it holds the Cascais Municipal Historical Archive and a branch of the Municipal Library, so architecture and local memory share one address.

What is Casa Sommer?

The building went up in the late 19th century as the residence of entrepreneur Henrique de Sommer, who founded Portugal's first cement factories in the early 20th century. It has a quadrangular plan and is regarded as the most important and refined example of a neoclassical private residence in Cascais. It is classified as a site of Municipal Interest.

How has its use changed?

It began as a family home. In the 1960s it housed the Luso-British School, and in the 1980s it served as a facility for children. After restoration and conversion, the municipality reopened it as a cultural and research space on 7 December 2016.

What can you see and do here?

Casa Sommer now works as a local history centre. The archive collects, organises, preserves and shares documentation on the municipality from 1387 to 2016, arranged in around 100 funds and collections. The holdings cover the town's archaeological, architectural, historical and cultural heritage. The library branch under the same roof means you can come for research or simply to read.

Even if you have no archival question, the house is worth a look as an example of private architecture from old Cascais, and it fits easily into a walk through the historic centre.

Where is it and how do you plan a visit?

The house stands in the heart of town, close to the Citadel and the Cultural Centre, so it combines well with other sights. According to OpenStreetMap, opening hours are:

• Monday to Friday: 9:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00,
• Saturday and Sunday: 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-18:00.

Check the Cascais municipality website for current hours before you go, as they can change.

Frequently asked questions

Who built Casa Sommer? It was built as the residence of Henrique de Sommer, an entrepreneur and pioneer of Portugal's cement industry.

What is inside today? The Cascais Municipal Historical Archive and a branch of the Municipal Library.

When did it open in its current role? On 7 December 2016.

What period do the archive's documents cover? From 1387 to 2016.

Is it worth a stop for a visitor? Yes, if you like local history and architecture. It is near the Citadel, so it suits a stroll around the centre.