Manzanares el Real Castle

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Towards the end of the 15th century, House Mendoza decided to use the economic and political influence their family achieved to build themselves a new castle-palace. Taking inspiration from the heavily fortified medieval castles, the Mendozas applied Renaissance flourishes to the usually utilitarian design. While the castle fell out of use less than 100 years later after the Mendoza’s fortunes changed. Today, the castle’s one of the best preserved in the region, offering visitors the opportunity to appreciate the architectural intricacies, such as the arrow slits decorated with Crosses of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, or the Gothic gallery, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. The castle museum exhibits a collection of tapestries, artwork, furniture and armour. Towards the end of the 15th century, House Mendoza decided to use the economic and political influence their family achieved to build themselves a new castle-palace. Taking inspiration from the heavily fortified medieval castles, the Mendozas applied Renaissance flourishes to the usually utilitarian design. While the castle fell out of use less than 100 years later after the Mendoza’s fortunes changed. Today, the castle’s one of the best preserved in the region, offering visitors the opportunity to appreciate the architectural intricacies, such as the arrow slits decorated with Crosses of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, or the Gothic gallery, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. The castle museum exhibits a collection of tapestries, artwork, furniture and armour.