Castillo de la Emperatriz Eugenia de Montijo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castillo de la Emperatriz Eugenia de Montijo |
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Eugenia de Montijo enperatrizaren gaztelua
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| General information | |
| Type | Chateau |
| Architectural style | Neo-Gothic |
| Town or city | Arteaga |
| Country | Spain |
| Coordinates | 43°21′07″N 2°39′15″W / 43.35202°N 2.654287°W |
| Construction started | 1859 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 5 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Gabriel-Auguste Ancelet |
The Castillo de la Emperatriz Eugenia de Montijo (which means Empress Eugénie de Montijo's Castle in Basque) is a beautiful castle in the village of Arteaga, near Bilbao in the Basque Country of Spain. It looks like a medieval castle but was built much later. This type of style is called neo-Gothic. It is considered an important heritage building in the Basque Country.
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Where is the Castle Located?
The castle is in a green, fertile area. It is close to the Urdaibai estuary, which is a special natural area where a river meets the sea. It's also near the historic town of Guernica.
Unlike many old Spanish castles built for defense, this one is not on a high hill. Instead, it sits on flat land, surrounded by trees. This makes it look more like some French royal homes, such as Fontainebleau Castle.
The Castle's History
Early Beginnings of the Site
People say that an original manor house was built here in the eighth century. It was built by Fortún Ortúnez and Sancho Gaúteguiz. Over many years, this building was destroyed and rebuilt several times.
The current castle stands on the foundations of an old tower. This tower was first mentioned in writings from the mid-1400s. By the 1800s, the tower was very old and run down. It was even being used as a farmhouse.
Connection to the Empress
The Arteaga family owned this old tower. They were related to the Montijo family. This family connection led to Empress Eugénie de Montijo owning the tower. She was the wife of Napoleon III, who was the Emperor of France.
In 1856, a special decision was made in the Basque Country. They declared that the Empress's newborn son, the Prince Imperial, was connected to the region. They said he was a descendant of the lords of Arteaga and Montijo. This meant he was the Lord of the Towers of Arteaga.
Building the New Castle
Because of this special connection, Empress Eugénie asked her husband, Emperor Napoleon III, to help. He sent his architects to Arteaga to design and build a new castle.
Louis-Auguste Couvrechef first worked on the project. Then, Gabriel-Auguste Ancelet took over as the main architect. Their idea was to build a medieval-style castle. It would have four walls and round towers.
Ancelet started rebuilding the castle in 1859. The plans included kitchens on the ground floor. The first floor would have a salon (a fancy living room) and a dining room. The next floor was for the imperial couple's apartments. Rooms for staff were at the very top. Ancelet also designed all the decorations inside. Many French artists and builders helped with the work.
A park was also created around the castle. The project faced many delays. It was almost finished in 1873, the same year Emperor Napoleon III died.
What Happened After Construction?
Even though the castle was "restored in a grand style," it was never fully completed. The imperial family never actually lived in the castle.
When Empress Eugénie was no longer empress, she moved to Spain. She stayed with friends in Madrid and Seville. She did not use the castle in Arteaga. In 1891, a visitor found the castle closed and its grounds messy.
Today, the property has been turned into a fancy hotel. It has 13 rooms and one special suite for guests.
What Does the Castle Look Like?
Architectural Style
The castle looks like a medieval building, but it was built in the 1800s. This style is called neo-medieval or Gothic Revival. It was popular when people loved the idea of old Romantic stories.
The castle has many features of Gothic architecture. These include pointed arches called ogival arches. It also has gargoyles, which are stone figures of animals. There are double windows and battlements, which are the notched tops of castle walls.
Main Tower and Structure
The main tower of the castle has a rectangular base. It measures about 17 meters (56 feet) by 12 meters (39 feet). An octagonal (eight-sided) tower is attached to it at an angle. Inside this octagonal tower is a staircase that connects all the floors.
The castle is covered with gray marble. Around the arched windows, you can see red jasper stone. On each of its four sides, two tall pointed arches rise from the bottom to the top. Each of these arches holds four windows, with two on each floor. The castle also has a beautiful coat of arms on its main front side.
Inside the Castle
The castle has five floors, plus a basement. In the basement, you would find the kitchen, a wine cellar, and a room for servants.
A wide marble staircase leads to the first floor. This floor has a large, richly decorated hall. The floors are made of marquetry, which means they have patterns made from different colored wood pieces. The ceilings are also beautifully carved. The two main rooms on the first floor each have a huge Gothic fireplace made of gray marble and oak wood.
The second floor was meant to be the bedroom for the imperial couple. It also has a small chapel with two lovely stained glass windows. The upper floors were for higher-ranking servants. An oval-shaped staircase inside a small turret connects all the floors.
Outer Walls and Entrance
The main tower is surrounded by a small square area. This area is enclosed by high walls and four round towers at each corner. The stone used for these outer walls is simpler and rougher. You can enter the castle grounds through a single door, which is also in the Gothic style.
Sources
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de la Emperatriz Eugenia de Montijo para niños
