New Castle of Manzanares el Real facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Castle of Manzanares el Real |
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| Native name Spanish: Castillo nuevo de Manzanares el Real |
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| Location | Manzanares el Real, Spain |
| Official name: Castillo nuevo de Manzanares el Real | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 1931 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0000720 |
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The New Castle of Manzanares el Real, also known as the Castle of los Mendoza, is a grand palace and fortress built in the 15th century. You can find it in the town of Manzanares el Real in Spain. It stands proudly next to the Santillana reservoir, at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains.
Building the castle started in 1475 on the site of an older church. Today, it is one of the best-kept castles in the Community of Madrid. It was built near the Manzanares River to be a fancy home for the powerful House of Mendoza family. An older fortress nearby was left empty once this new castle was finished.
Today, the castle is a museum about Spanish castles. It also displays a beautiful collection of tapestries, which are woven pictures. In 1931, it was officially named a Historic-Artistic Monument. The castle is owned by the Duchy of the Infantado, a noble family, but the local government of Madrid helps manage it.
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A Look Back in Time
The lands around the upper part of the Manzanares River were very valuable. They had lots of good pastures and forests. Because of this, different groups often argued over who owned them after the Reconquista (the Christian reconquest of Spain). In the 13th century, the towns of Segovia and Madrid had many disagreements. King John I of Castile settled these arguments in the 14th century. He gave the area to his trusted helper, Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza.
Building the First Castle
The oldest son of the Mendoza family, Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, is thought to have built the first fortress. This is now called the Old Castle of Manzanares el Real. However, it's possible that an even older building was there before. Later, in the late 1400s, the House of Mendoza decided to build a brand new castle. They wanted it to be bigger and much more luxurious. This was because the family had become very rich and powerful.
The New Castle Takes Shape
Work on the new castle began in 1475. Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, 1st Duke of the Infantado, who started the project, did not live to see it finished. His eldest son, Íñigo López de Mendoza, completed the construction. The famous architect Juan Guas oversaw the work. He also designed the Palace of the Infantado in Guadalajara.
The castle was used as a grand home for only about 100 years. After Íñigo López de Mendoza y Pimentel, the 4th Duke of the Infantado, died in 1566, the castle was no longer lived in. This was due to money problems and arguments among the Mendoza family heirs.
Castle in the Movies and History
The castle has even been a movie star! It was one of the places used in the 1961 film El Cid.
In 1982, an important meeting took place at the castle. The Parliament of Madrid was officially created there. The document that gave the region its own self-governing rules was also presented at this event.
What the Castle Looks Like
The castle has a square shape and is built entirely from strong granite stone. It has four round towers at its corners. These towers are decorated with special ball-shaped designs in the Isabelline Gothic style, which was popular in Spain. The main tower, which has six sides, is a standout feature.
The top of the building has a terrace with openings called machicolation. These were used to drop things on attackers below. It also has small turrets. Inside, there is a rectangular courtyard with covered walkways. These walkways are supported by columns with eight sides. The Gothic walkway on the first floor is considered one of the most beautiful in Spanish military buildings. Along the southern wall, there's a walkway with fancy, flame-like designs on the low walls.
A lower wall, called a barbican, surrounds the entire castle. This wall has narrow openings called loopholes, which allowed defenders to shoot arrows. It also has the cross of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem carved into it. Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza held this important title. The castle also has other defensive features like hidden rooms.
The castle has six floors, plus a basement. These include the ground floor, two mezzanine floors (in-between floors), the main floor, an upper gallery, and the roof galleries. The main entrance is protected by two towers with an arch connecting them.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo nuevo de Manzanares el Real para niños
