Palace of Valsain facts for kids
The Royal Palace of Valsain was once a grand home for Spanish kings and queens. Today, it stands mostly in ruins. You can find it in a place called Valsain, which is in the Province of Segovia in central Spain. It's about 14 kilometers (9 miles) from Segovia city and 75 kilometers (47 miles) north of Madrid.
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History of the Royal Palace of Valsain
Long ago, kings from the House of Trastámara in Castile had a hunting lodge in Valsain. This was a smaller building used when they went hunting.
The main royal palace was built later, between 1552 and 1556. King Philip II ordered its construction. The architect who designed it was Gaspar de Vega.
King Philip II had traveled to places like France, England, and the Netherlands. He was very impressed by the buildings he saw there.
The new palace at Valsain was designed with ideas from these northern European countries. It had special features like steep slate roofs, pointy spires, and windows sticking out from the roof. These styles were new in Spain and became popular in buildings for the Habsburg royal family.
Who Lived Here?
The palace was an important place for the royal family. Princess Isabella Clara Eugenia was born here. She was the daughter of King Philip II of Spain and his third wife, Elisabeth of Valois.
Later, Isabella Clara Eugenia became a ruler herself. She governed the Spanish Netherlands (parts of modern-day Belgium, Luxembourg, and northern France) with her husband, Albert VII, Archduke of Austria.
A Royal Visitor
In 1623, Prince Charles from England visited Valsain. This visit was part of a plan for him to marry a Spanish princess, known as the "Spanish match".
Prince Charles really liked the palace's gardens and its beautiful location.
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The Palace Burns Down
Sadly, on October 22, 1682, a big fire destroyed the palace. It burned down to just a shell.
At that time, Spain was facing many problems. There was a big crisis about who would become the next king. Because of this, King Charles II could not afford to rebuild the palace.
His successor, King Philip V, decided to build a new royal palace nearby. This new palace is called "La Granja". Today, only the ruins of the Royal Palace of Valsain remain.
