Palau Reial Major facts for kids
The Palau Reial Major (pronounced: pa-LAU ray-AL ma-JOR), which means "Grand Royal Palace," is a group of old buildings in Barcelona, Spain. It's in a famous square called Plaça del Rei. Long ago, important rulers like the counts of Barcelona and the kings of Aragon lived here.
This grand palace is made up of three main parts:
- The Saló del Tinell, built by King Peter IV between 1359 and 1362.
- The Chapel of St. Agatha, a royal chapel built in 1302 under King James II.
- The Palau del Lloctinent (Viceroy's Palace), built in 1549 under Charles V.
Contents
The Saló del Tinell and St. Agatha Chapel
The Saló del Tinell is a large hall built in the 14th century. It was designed by an architect named Guillem Carbonell. This hall has beautiful Gothic arches. These arches stand on older vaults from the 11th century. Even older structures from the Visigoth age are beneath those.
The Chapel of St. Agatha was designed by Bertran Riquer. It was built to be the royal chapel, replacing an older prayer room. It has an eight-sided tower from the early 14th century. The chapel has one main aisle with a unique roof and a polygonal (many-sided) end. The sacristy, a room where sacred items are kept, is built into ancient Roman walls.
Between 1463 and 1466, King Peter V of Aragon asked the painter Jaume Huguet to create a special altarpiece for the chapel. This artwork is dedicated to the Epiphany, a Christian holiday.
Both the Saló del Tinell and the Chapel of St. Agatha are considered amazing examples of Catalan Gothic architecture. The Epiphany altarpiece is also a fantastic Gothic painting. You can visit these parts of the palace as part of the Barcelona City History Museum (MUHBA). Sometimes, special temporary art shows are held there too.
Later Uses of the Palace
After the 16th century, the palace was no longer used as a home for kings. It was divided up for different purposes. Part of it was used by the Inquisition, a historical court. Another part was used by the royal government. During this time, a new door was built. This door led to the Royal Audience Hall. Today, this door, with its triangular top part (called a tympanum), can be seen at the entrance of the Museu Frederic Marès.
The Palau del Lloctinent
The Palau del Lloctinent (Viceroy's Palace) was built between 1549 and 1557. Antoni Carbonell designed it. It combines late Gothic and Renaissance styles. This building served as the home for the Viceroy of Catalonia. A Viceroy was a person who ruled a region in the name of the king.
Also from this period is the "Mirador of King Martin." This is a five-story tower with a rectangular shape, built in 1555. A mirador is a lookout point, often with great views.
Gallery
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Palau del Lloctinent
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Steps leading to the Saló del Tinell and the Chapel of St. Agatha
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The altarpiece of the Epiphany, by Jaume Huguet
See also
In Spanish: Palacio Real Mayor de Barcelona para niños
