Palace of the Kings of Majorca facts for kids
The Palace of the Kings of Majorca (in French: Palais des Rois de Majorque, in Catalan: Palau dels Reis de Mallorca) is a beautiful palace and a strong fortress. It has lovely gardens and looks over the city of Perpignan in Pyrenees-Orientales, France.
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A Royal Home: The Palace's History
The Kingdom of Majorca
In 1276, King James II of Majorca decided to make Perpignan the main city of his Kingdom of Majorca. He started building a grand palace with gardens on a hill called Puig del Rey. The palace was finished in 1309. Its main architects were Ramon Pau, Pons Descoll, and Bernat Quer.
Ending a Church Problem
In 1415, the Holy Roman Emperor, Sigismund, held an important meeting at the palace. He wanted to convince a church leader, Antipope Benedict XIII, to step down. At that time, there was a big disagreement in the church called the Western Schism, where more than one person claimed to be the Pope.
On September 20, 1415, the Emperor met with Benedict XIII at the palace. Many important people were there, including King Ferdinand I of Aragon and representatives from other countries. However, Benedict XIII refused to resign. The Emperor left Perpignan on November 5, without solving the problem.
Wars and New Owners
Part of the palace was damaged during a war in 1502. Later, in 1659, France took control of the area where the palace is located. After this, France made the palace even stronger to help defend the region.
In 1958, the General Council of the Pyrénées-Orientales bought the palace and its gardens. Before that, the Ministry of Defence owned it. The army still uses some parts of the old fortress today.
Palace Design: Gothic Style
How the Palace Looks
The Palace of the Kings of Majorca is a fortified palace built in the Gothic style. It is designed around three large courtyards, each about 60 meters square. The first builders, Ramon Pau and Pons Descoyl, were very active in Perpignan and the Balearic Islands.
Chapels and Great Hall
The palace has two chapels, one built directly above the other. The lower one 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" was the center of political power. The chapel is placed right in the middle of the royal living areas, across from the throne room. This shows how important spiritual beliefs were, even more than worldly power. The palace's design was inspired by palaces in Majorca. The chapel also looks like the famous Sainte-Chapelle in Paris.
Building Materials
The palace walls were built using rough stones and bricks held together with mortar. They were then covered with a smooth layer of lime and painted.
Many parts of the palace, like the doors, hallways, stairs, and main towers, are made from carefully cut stone. These stones come in different colors, such as ochre 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 Activities at the Palace
Guitares au Palais
The palace and its gardens host a free three-day music festival called Guitares au Palais. It happens every year during the last weekend of August.
The festival's art director is Pedro Soler. It features many different guitar styles, including traditional acoustic guitar, flamenco, classical music, gypsy music, pop music, and jazz.
Many famous international musicians have played at the festival. Some past guests include the Rosenberg Trio, Tekamali, and Paco Ibáñez. Others are Montserrat Figueras, Rolf Lislevand, Manolo Sanlucar, The National, and Caetano Veloso.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de los Reyes de Mallorca para niños
- List of castles in France
