Vila Galé Collection Ouro Preto: hotel set in former 18th-century cavalry barracks

Visitors to Ouro Preto, in Minas Gerais, will find a hotel housed in a property tied directly to Brazil’s colonial past. Based in Cachoeira do Campo, a district of the historic city, Vila Galé Collection Ouro Preto occupies the building that, in the 18th century, served as the First Barracks of the Minas Gerais Cavalry Regiment - the unit in which Tiradentes served.

The development only became possible after a careful programme of restoration and conversion that prepared the heritage site for hospitality use. The scheme retained features from the original construction while adding the infrastructure required to operate as a modern hotel.

Investment and works timeline at Vila Galé Collection Ouro Preto

To deliver the transformation, the Portuguese group Vila Galé invested a total of R$ 220 million. This sum covered not only the restoration of the historic building, but also the construction of new accommodation wings and other parts of the complex, including the stud farm.

The work took around 17 months. During the build, the team encountered building characteristics that only became apparent once the interventions had begun.

Renovation revealed 18th-century structures

According to Rick Rocha, the engineer leading the network’s projects, developments set within historic buildings often bring unexpected discoveries during construction.

“Projects like this one in Ouro Preto are real boxes of surprises, because we never know exactly what we will find until the works begin. Here, we discovered, for example, walls with a thickness of 1.20 metres,” he says.

The conversion aimed to balance conservation of the property’s historic character with the hotel group’s operating standards. This included structural adjustments alongside the introduction of new guest-focused services.

The company says the intention was to safeguard elements connected to the building’s story, without compromising the functional requirements of a contemporary tourism operation.

Facilities bring together accommodation, dining and events at Vila Galé Collection Ouro Preto

Today, Vila Galé Collection Ouro Preto offers 311 rooms. The facilities include five swimming pools - one of them heated - as well as the Satsanga Spa & Wellness.

The complex also has 15 hectares dedicated to cultivating a vineyard and olive grove. For children, there is the NEP club, a dedicated space for recreational activities.

On the food and drink side, guests can choose from the Versátil, Massa Fina and Inevitável restaurants, plus the Soul & Blues bar.

There are also event areas, including a space that can host up to 900 people and an auditorium designed for 200 participants.

“ We left the hotel with the Vila Galé quality stamp, but keeping the essence of the original project. Many travellers visit Ouro Preto because of its history, so it makes a lot of sense for them to stay in a historic place too, like Vila Galé Collection Ouro Preto,” says Rick Rocha.