Castle of Simancas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle of Simancas |
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Castle de Simancas
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Simancas, Province of Valladolid, Castile and León |
| Country | Spain |
| Coordinates | 41°35′31″N 4°49′44″W / 41.59194°N 4.82889°W |
| Current tenants | Archivo General de Simancas |
| Construction started | late 15th Cent |
| Renovated | 1952 |
The Castle of Simancas is an amazing old fortress located in the heart of Simancas, a town in central Spain. This historic castle isn't just a cool old building; it's also home to the Archivo General de Simancas, which is like a giant library filled with important old documents.
Contents
Discovering the Castle's Past
The land where the Castle of Simancas stands was once home to an old Moorish fortress. This shows how important the spot has been for a very long time.
Building a New Fortress
In the 1400s, a powerful family called the House of Enríquez built a brand new castle. They used the old ruins as a base and even fixed up some of the original Moorish walls. They also added a small chapel inside.
From Castle to Prison
Later, the Spanish rulers, known as the Catholic Monarchs, took control of the castle. They decided to use it as a prison. Imagine a strong castle becoming a place to hold prisoners!
Home to Important Documents
In 1540, something very important happened. The Archivo General de Simancas was started right inside the castle. This was the very first official archive for the Kingdom of Castile, a big part of Spain at the time. It was a place to keep all the important government papers safe.
King Philip II's Vision
Later, King Philip II made the castle even more important. He turned it into the main archive for the entire kingdom. It became one of the most significant archives in all of Europe. It held an incredible 35 million documents! These papers tell us so much about history.
Protecting a National Treasure
The Spanish government recognized how special the castle and its archives were. In 1949, they officially put the castle under their protection. A few years later, in 1952, they did some major renovations. These updates helped keep the precious documents safe, especially from things like fire. Today, you can visit the castle as a tourist or even go there to research history.
Exploring the Castle's Design
The main parts of the castle, like its strong foundation, tall walls, battlements (the parts that look like teeth on top of the walls), gates, and bridges, were mostly built between 1467 and 1480.
Changing Purpose of the Castle
When the Reconquista ended in 1492, Spain no longer needed as many large defensive castles. The Reconquista was a long period when Christian kingdoms took back land from Moorish rule. Because of this, the Castle of Simancas changed. It was rebuilt and redesigned to become an administrative building, a place for government work, instead of just a fortress.
Architectural Style and Safety
Later additions to the castle show a style called Herrerian architecture. This style is known for being very grand and simple at the same time. Inside the castle, the archive is now protected with special fireproofing. The chapel that the Enríquez family built in the 1400s has also been carefully restored.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Simancas para niños
