Palace of the Kings of Majorca facts for kids
The Palace of the Kings of Majorca is a magnificent old palace and a strong fortress. It has beautiful gardens and looks over the city of Perpignan in France. This special place was once the home of kings!
Contents
A Royal Home: The Palace's Story
Building a Kingdom's Capital
In 1276, King James II of Majorca chose Perpignan to be the main city of his Kingdom of Majorca. He decided to build a grand palace there. Construction began on a hill called Puig del Rey. The palace, with its lovely gardens, was finished in 1309. Ramon Pau, Pons Descoll, and Bernat Quer were the architects who designed it.
A Big Meeting to End a Church Problem
In 1415, a very important meeting happened at the palace. Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, gathered leaders from across Europe. His goal was to convince a church leader, Antipope Benedict XIII, to step down. This was part of an effort to end a big disagreement in the church called the Western Schism.
Many important people came to Perpignan for this summit. They included King Ferdinand I of Aragon and representatives from many kingdoms. However, the Antipope refused to resign. He would not accept the Pope chosen by the Council of Constance. The Emperor left Perpignan in November, unable to solve the problem.
Wars and New Owners
The palace faced tough times during wars between France and Spain. In 1502, part of its northern side was damaged during a siege.
Later, in 1659, France took control of the region called Roussillon. France then made the palace even stronger. They added more defenses to protect it.
In 1958, the General Council of the Pyrénées-Orientales bought the palace and its gardens. Before that, it belonged to the French Ministry of Defence. The Ministry still uses some of the old military buildings nearby.
Palace Design: What It Looks Like
The Palace of the Kings of Majorca is a fortified palace built in the Gothic style. This means it has tall arches and strong walls. The palace is built around three large courtyards, each about 60 meters square.
Special Chapels and Royal Rooms
The palace has two chapels, one built directly above the other. The lower chapel is called the Queen's Chapel. The upper chapel is named Holy Cross and has a beautiful door made of pink marble.
The Great Hall, the chapel, and the royal living areas are all close together. The chapel is right in the middle of the royal apartments. It is even across from the throne room! This shows how important spiritual matters were to the kings. The palace's design was inspired by other palaces in Majorca. Its chapel is similar to the famous Sainte-Chapelle in Paris.
Building Materials
The palace walls were built using rough stones and bricks. These were held together with mortar. Then, the walls were covered with a lime coating and painted.
Many parts of the palace are made from carefully cut stone. This includes doors, hallways, stairs, and the main towers. Different types of colorful stone were used. These include yellow stone from Les Fonts, blue stone from Baixas, and red marble from Villefranche-de-Conflent. White and blue marble from Ceret were also used.
Fun Things to Do at the Palace
Guitares au Palais: A Music Festival
Every year, the palace and its gardens host a free music festival called Guitares au Palais. This guitar festival lasts for three days. It usually takes place on the last weekend of August.
The festival features many different styles of guitar music. You can hear traditional acoustic guitar, lively flamenco, beautiful classical music, and exciting gypsy music. There are also performances of pop music and jazz.
Many famous guitar players and musicians have performed here. Some past guests include the Rosenberg Trio, Tekamali, and Paco Ibáñez. Other artists like Montserrat Figueras, Rolf Lislevand, and Manolo Sanlucar have also played at the festival.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de los Reyes de Mallorca para niños
- List of castles in France
