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Mysterious architecture, an obscure owner, interior decorations by a theatre set designer, associations with Knights Templar and Freemasons and tragic deaths - any of these elements would give you the perfect backdrop for dark novels and creepy stories - but all together, associated with one single location and you can imagine that the Biester Chalet was destined to be surrounded by mystery! Add to this that this was the film location for Roman Polanski's movie "The Ninth Gate" with Johnny Depp (1999, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142688/) about a book collector searching for a book written by the Devil himself and the "creepiness" factor is off the charts!
Film scene from "The Ninth Gate" (1999) with Johnny Depp at the gate to the Biester Chalet
But wait. There is more! Not only is the building full of symbols associated with the Freemasons, it also has a Masonic initiation chamber in the basement. Oh, and if this was not enough, the house next door is the famous Quinta da Regaleira which in itself is a house surrounded by mystery, secrets, legends and creepy stories! Before we delve deeper into some of these secrets, let's get back to the Biester family.
The Mysterious Deaths Decimating the Biester - Chamiço Families
Frederico Biester (the owner), was born in the year 1833 and passed away in 1899. He married Amélia Freitas Guimarães Chamiço, who was born in 1843 and died in the year 1900. The wedding took place on November 22, 1870. From this marriage, only one daughter was born, who died at a very young age due to osseous tuberculosis.
After the death of Frederico Biester in 1898, the Chalet Biester passed on to his wife, Amélia de Freitas Chamiço, who suddenly died a few months later in 1900. With no declared will, all the couple's assets were donated to the only possible heir.
It was her aunt by affinity on the paternal side, Mrs. Dona Claudina Ermelinda de Freitas Guimarães Chamiço (mentioned earlier), who became the heiress of all the assets. Amélia was a member of the powerful banking family Chamiço. She also had lost several relatives in very short time, mainly due to tuberculosis. You can imagine that people seeing one family member after another dying - including a small child - and the idea about a curse starts to settle in. Knights Templar Symbols at Chalet Biester
The private Chapel at Chalet Biester is full of symbols associated with the Knights Templar
Unusually, the chapel is located on the upper floor of the master chambers and boasts two entrances—one private and the other for visitors. Surprisingly, given the Palace's historical ties to the Knights and its location in Sintra, we are presented with a neo-gothic Templar chapel. Here, we can witness the presence of related iconography, such as friezes adorned with pattée crosses and imagery significant to the Order. We can find the same cross in different variations at Quinta da Regaleira. Both owners were declared Freemasons and very fond of the Knights Templar Order. You can read more about the History of the Knights Templar in Sintra in our blog post: "The Templar Connection: Unmasking Sintra's Hidden History" - Read here
The pattée cross used by the Knights Templar The chapel's ceiling, within the "nave," displays the most magnificent paintings found throughout the entire Palace: two angels holding a thurible and a navette, attributed to the masterful Paul Baudry (1828-1886).
A thurible is a vessel used in the Catholic liturgy to burn incense during mass. It symbolizes the body of Christ, with the Holy Spirit burning inside and the incense ascending to heaven like the prayers of the faithful. In the double-height apse of the chapel, meticulously simulating the ribbed vaults reminiscent of grand Gothic cathedrals, we encounter four awe-inspiring stained-glass windows commissioned from Hubert of Paris in 1889, offering a captivating view of the Moors Castle. This is another pointer to the Knights Templar. The Castle of the Moors is strongly associated with the Christian victory over the Moors and the Knights played a significant role in this. The Chapel has also a view to the Pena Palace, which is symbolic in nature too. The triangle comes into full circle: the Moors Castle protecting the Pena Palace and both overseeing, protecting the Biester family mansion! Exploring the Initiation Chamber This is one of the most important elements that shrouds the Biester Chalet in mystery! The owner built his own initiation chamber in the basement of the mansion. This is a strong indication about his own position and power within the secret society. We don't know if and how many individuals had to 'pass the test' to be accepted and ordered into the society.
Entrance to the Initiation Chamber in the Basement of the Biester Palace
Deeply intertwined with the religious ideology that permeates the entire conception of the Biester Palace, this enigmatic place holds a profound connection to the sacred practices of initiation within the esteemed Templar Order. Step into a small, stone-built compartment with a vaulted ceiling, where a rudimentary medieval shrine-like window stands before the entrance, beckoning explorers to discover the hidden secrets beyond. Inspired by the Christian sanctuaries of ancient Jerusalem, the chamber's bare stone walls and vaulted arches replicate the medieval sanctuary models.
Amidst the opulence of the neo-gothic chapel, the modesty of this initiatory chamber pays homage to the candidate's vow of poverty, reflecting the original ordinances of the Templar Order. Prepare to be captivated by the contrasting worlds within the Biester Palace as we delve into the mystique of this sacred space.
How was the ritual performed? What is the meaning of an initiation process in order to become a Freemason? Read more about this in our blog article: "Chamber of Secrets: Unveiling the Mystique of Biester Palace" - Read here
Watch our exclusive video about entering the labyrinthic system of the Initiation Chamber at Chalet Biester - Watch here
Finally: Is the Biester Palace haunted?
It is up to you to find out! We have met some people that have slept in the Chalet and couldn't feel anything. Others had strange experiences and refused to sleep in the mansion (rumour has it that both Roman Polanski and Johnny Depp felt uncomfortable in the Chalet and refused to sleep there, we don't know if this is true or was just said to create good PR for the unreleased movie!). Do you want to find out? Book an exclusive tour with one of our experienced tour guides and/or Buy the Tickets to the Chalet Biester - Here
Read about similar topics on our blog: Sintra's Cultural Tapestry: Traces of Islamic Influence Revealed Unlocking the Mysteries: Symbolism and Occult in Sintra's Enigmatic Realm