Episcopal Palace, Astorga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Episcopal Palace of Astorga |
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Palacio Episcopal de Astorga
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Modernisme |
| Location | Astorga (León), Spain |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Antoni Gaudí |
| Type: | Non-movable |
| Criteria: | Monument |
| Designated: | 24 July 1969 |
| Reference #: | RI-51-0003827 |
The Episcopal Palace of Astorga (in Spanish: Palacio Episcopal de Astorga) is a famous building. It was designed by the amazing Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. This special palace was built between 1889 and 1913.
It is designed in the unique Modernisme style from Catalonia. This palace is one of only three buildings Gaudí designed outside his home region of Catalonia. An "Episcopal Palace" is where a bishop lives or works.
Contents
A Palace Rises from Ashes
A long time ago, the old Bishop's Palace in Astorga was destroyed by a big fire. This happened in the 1800s. After the fire, Bishop Juan Bautista Grau y Vallespinos needed a new home.
He decided to ask his good friend, Antoni Gaudí, to design the new building. They had become friends earlier. Bishop Grau had seen Gaudí's work on a church altar and was very impressed.
Gaudí's Design Process
When Gaudí got the job, he was very busy. He was still working on the Palau Güell in Barcelona. This meant he could not travel to Astorga right away. He needed to see the land where the palace would be built.
So, Gaudí asked the bishop to send him photos of the area. This way, Gaudí could plan the new palace from far away. Gaudí sent his design back to the bishop. Everyone loved it, and it was approved in February 1889. The first stone was placed in June of the next year.
Building the Palace
The palace was built using strong gray granite stone. This stone came from a nearby area called El Bierzo. Gaudí designed the palace in a neo-medieval style. This means it looked like buildings from the Middle Ages. It fit in perfectly with the nearby Astorga Cathedral.
The palace also has some special features that Gaudí often used. These include the unique arches at the entrance. It also has chimneys that are part of the side walls. Gaudí had planned a five-meter-tall angel for the top of the front of the building. However, this angel was never put in place. The palace has four round towers and is surrounded by a ditch.
Changes and New Uses
In 1893, Bishop Grau sadly passed away. After his death, Gaudí had some disagreements with the local council. Because of this, Gaudí stopped working on the palace. Construction stopped for several years.
The palace was finally finished between 1907 and 1915. Another architect named Ricardo Garcia Guereta completed the work. Later, during a difficult time in Spain's history, the building was used as a local office.
In 1956, a man named Julià Castelltort started to fix up the palace. He wanted to make it a bishop's home again. But later, Bishop Marcelo González Martín had a new idea. He decided to turn the palace into a museum.
Today, the palace is a museum of religious art. It is called the Museo de los Caminos. This museum is dedicated to the Way of Santiago, a famous pilgrimage route.
More to Explore
- Casa Botines, another building Gaudí designed in León.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio Episcopal de Astorga para niños
