HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsCrystal Palace
State of Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
It opened in 1884 to house exhibitions of flowers, birds and agricultural products. Its precast structure, in cast iron, was ordered from a foundry in France by Count D`Eu, being assembled in Petrópolis by engineer Eduardo Bonjean. Today it hosts cultural events and exhibitions.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the Pah-lah-syoo de Crees-tahl, one of Petropolis's most beloved and photographed landmarks. This delicate structure of iron and glass, inaugurated in 1884, is a rare survivor of the industrial age's architectural…
Listen in the app2The Gift of the Count — A Royal Gesture
The history of the Crystal Palace is fundamentally a story of royal affection and horticultural passion. The Count d'Eu, an avid gardener and president of the Petropolis Horticultural Society, commissioned this structure as a…
Listen in the app3Prefabricated Elegance — The French Connection
As you walk around the perimeter of the palace, look closely at the iron framework. This building was a 'kit' house of the highest order, manufactured in France and transported across the Atlantic in hundreds of separate pieces. …
Listen in the app4The Interior — A Sanctuary of Light
Entering the palace, the first thing you notice is the quality of the light. Because the walls and roof are almost entirely glass, the space changes character throughout the day, from the bright clarity of morning to the soft,…
Listen in the app5Industrial Revolution Engineering — Rarity and Form
The Crystal Palace is more than just a beautiful landmark; it is a textbook example of Industrial Revolution engineering. During the mid-to-late 1800s, architects were obsessed with the idea of 'truth to materials,' showing off…
Listen in the app6The Gardens of the Palace — A Green Frame
The Crystal Palace is inseparable from the gardens that surround it. Designed to provide a 'green frame' for the glass structure, the park features wide, flat paths and strategically placed benches that allow visitors to sit and…
Listen in the app7Bauernfest — The Palace as a Cultural Hub
In the modern era, the Crystal Palace has found a new life as the center of Petropolis's most important festival: the Bau-ern-fest, or German Settlers' Party. Every June, the area around the palace is filled with the sounds of…
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our visit to the Crystal Palace, take one last look at this fragile masterpiece of iron and glass. It is a building that seems to float among the trees, a testament to a time when architects and royalty alike…
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What is Crystal Palace?
Crystal Palace is a place in State of Rio de Janeiro · Brazil with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | State of Rio de Janeiro · Brazil |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | -22.5055, -43.1831 |
| Last updated |
