Alcázar of Segovia

The Alcázar of Segovia is a castle in the Spanish city of Segovia in the autonomous community of Castile -Leon.

History

The Alcázar of Segovia is one of the most famous castles in Spain. The start of construction is dated to the 11th century, after the Christians during the Reconquista took control of Segovia. The builder was Alfonso VI .. The castle was built on a narrow ridge between the rivers Eresma and Clamores. Thus, the establishment of a moth and a ring ditch was obsolete. Segovia was over the centuries repeatedly residence of the Spanish kings. So many rulers always added new features and individual construction plans in the castle. The best example is the massive rectangular Donjon over the previous round. John II had it built in the 15th century. In the photo this Donjon is just visible in the background yet.

The Donjon has twelve individual towers, which are equipped with pitch nose and attached to the top of the tower. According to chronicles, it housed several living rooms and the " Hall of Kings". This room was one of the six banquet halls of the castle, in the beginning of 34 gold statues of Spanish kings were erected. Philip II expanded this collection to 56 pieces.

A real curtain wall does not exist. The facility is, however, so massive and difficult to access, that an additional ring wall would have caused unnecessary cost. Well but one has built on the access path a smaller wall with a towered gatehouse.

A narrow passage leads into the old courtyard with the old round Donjon. The interior of the castle was damaged by fire in 1862, but partially restored.

For the first time the Alcazar is mentioned in a document from the 12th century, shortly after the reconquest of the city by Alfonso VI. During the Middle Ages the fortress was preferred residential castle of the Castilian kings. Isabella the Catholic rode from there on December 13, 1474 to the Plaza Mayor, in order to let proclaim to the rightful queen. In the " Galley Hall ," named after its ceiling structure in the form of an inverted ship's hull, suggests a modern wall paintings of contemporary artist Munoz de Pablo to go to this event.

In the small chapel of the Alcázar, the marriage of Philip II to Anne of Austria took place.

Alcazar

Sala del cordón

Chapel

Armory