Casa del Labrador facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Community of Madrid, Spain |
| Part of | Aranjuez Cultural Landscape |
| Inscription | 2001 (25th Session) |
The Casa del Labrador is a beautiful old palace in Aranjuez, Spain. It was built in a style called Neoclassical. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. Even though its name means "house of the farm labourer," it was actually made for the royal family. King Charles IV wanted a special place. It was a spot where they could relax and enjoy themselves. It was less formal than the big Royal Palace.
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Designing the Palace
The first ideas for the Casa del Labrador came from a royal architect. His name was Juan de Villanueva. He designed it for King Charles IV. The king wanted a special place to spend his days.
You can see the year 1803 carved on the front of the palace. This shows when it was finished. Another architect, Isidro González Velázquez, helped complete the work.
Inside the Palace: Amazing Art and Decor
The inside of the Casa del Labrador is full of amazing art. A French designer named Jean-Démosthène Dugourc helped create many of the decorations. He started working for King Charles IV after the French Revolution.
The floors are made of beautiful marble. Some of this marble even includes real Roman mosaics. These mosaics were found in an ancient city called Merida. There are also wonderful paintings on the walls. These murals were created by an artist named Zacarías González Velázquez.
Visiting the Palace and Gardens
The Casa del Labrador is located in a big park. This park is called the Jardín del Príncipe, or "Prince's Garden." It is right next to the River Tagus.
You can walk around the gardens for free. But if you want to go inside the palace, there is a small fee. The palace is looked after by a special group called Patrimonio Nacional.
The Jardín del Príncipe also has another cool place to visit. It's called the Faluas Reales Museum. This museum has old pleasure barges. These are special boats that were used by the royal family for fun on the river.
Protecting This Special Place
The Casa del Labrador is very important to Spain's history.
- In 1993, it was listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural. This means it's a protected cultural site.
- The gardens around it are also protected. They are called a Jardín Histórico, or "Historic Garden."
- Since 2001, Aranjuez has been part of a World Heritage Site. This means it's recognized by UNESCO as important for everyone in the world to protect. It's called the Aranjuez Cultural Landscape.
Other Royal Buildings Like This
There are other similar buildings near royal palaces in the Madrid area.
- Casita del Príncipe (El Escorial)
This building was also designed for King Charles IV. But it was built before he became king.
See also
In Spanish: Casa del Labrador para niños
