Palace of the Kings of Navarre of Olite: Difference between revisions

South facade of the Royal Palace of Olite.

File:Royal Palace of Olite, Olite.jpg

View of the royal palace.

The Palace of the Kings of Navarre of Olite or Royal Palace of Olite is a castle-palace that was built during the 13th and 14th centuries in the town of Olite, in Navarre, Spain. It was one of the seats of the Court of the Kingdom of Navarre, since the reign of Charles III "the Noble" until its union with Castile (1512), was one of the most luxurious medieval castles in Europe.

Surely there is no king with a more beautiful castle or palace and with so many gilded rooms (...) it could not say or even could imagine how magnificent and sumptuous is this palace (...)

— A 15th-century German traveller wrote his impressions in his diary, now conserved in the British Museum in London

This monument was quite damaged in 1813 by a fire caused by general Espoz y Mina during the Napoleonic French Invasion with the aim of that was not occupied by French troops. It was completely restored from 1937 in works that lasted for 30 years, giving it back its original appearance.

History

The fortification is both castle and palace, although it was built more like a courtier building to fulfill a military function. Since the 13th century the Castle of Olite was called as Palace of the King of Navarre.

The castle built on an ancient Roman fortification, was built during the reign of Sancho VII of Navarre "the Strong" (XIII century) and extended by his successors Theobald I and Theobald II, that was is installed in the palace in 1269 and there signed the consent letter for the wedding of Blanche of Artois with his brother Henry I of Navarre, who in turn, Henry since 1271 used the palace as a temporary residence. This ancient area is known as the Old Palace.

At this time the Navarrese court was traveling, so it can not consider this palace as royal seat, as the castle was occupied intermittently by kings according to their preferences. So it has the presence of King Charles II of Navarre in 1380, 1381 and 1384.

The castle was host the Navarrese court from the 14th until 16th centuries, being from the annexation of the kingdom of Navarre to Castile in 1512 when it began the decline of the castle and therefore its practically neglect and deterioration. At that time would be official residence of the viceroys of Navarre.

In 1813 the Navarrese guerrilla fighter Espoz y Mina during the French Napoleonic invasion burned the castle with the aim that the French could not make forts in it, which almost brought ruin it. It is from 1937 when architects José and Javier Yarnoz Larrosa began the restoration of the castle palace, giving it back the original appearance and see today. The restoration work was completed in 1967 and were paid by the Foral Government of Navarre.

Description

The Palace of the Kings of Navarre of Olite (castle palace of Olite) consists of three cores: the Old Palace, the New Palace and the church iglesia de Santa María la Real.

Old Palace

Old Palace, now serves as a Parador de Turismo.

Today is a Parador de Turismo called "Principe de Viana". and opens its main cover to Plaza de los Teobaldos.

The Old Palace built in the 13th century was structured around an enclosed rectangular courtyard by four crujías on which revolved all dependencies. On the ground floor were the stores and the chapel of San Jorge documented in 1357. Also on the ground floor stood the "Cort"'s great hall which coincided with the main facade, which was distinguished by three towers, disappearing the central in 1414 that served as a door. About "The Cort" on the top floor, was located the "Cambra luenga" and next to it the "Cambra de doña Juana".

The original internal structure of the old palace nothing remains now as this fulfills functions of Parador de Turismo hotel. However in its exterior facade have a Gothic window somewhat deteriorated with two shields on top among the pinnacles of the window.

Four towers remains in this palace known as Torre de San Jorge, Torre de la Prisión, Torre de la Cigueña or de la Atalaya, and a fourth that has no specific name.

With the construction of the New Palace, this palace would be used as stables, kitchens and secondary dependencies for the service of kings.

In 1584 the Marquis of Almazan made the new cover to the Old Palace with a blazon of Philip II of Spain, today very deteriorated.

Iglesia de Santa María la Real

Gothic church inside the royal palace, built in 13th century. It highlights its cover consists of five decorated pointed archivolts, like the tympanum which is represented an image of Saint Mary head of the temple. On both sides a group of blind arches with images representing the Apostles. In front of its main facade a beautiful cloister discovered of the same period.

Inside stands the 16th century Renaissance altarpiece attributed to Pedro de Aponte, presided over by a Gothic sculpture of the Virgin.

Although the church is located between the Old Palace and the New Palace, was not the Palatine temple, as the kings had their own chapel, known as Chapel of San Jorge.

This church closes its doors at 13:00 hour.

• 
  Gothic Iglesia de Santa María la Real located inside the palace, with its cloister.
• Tympanum of the church
  Tympanum of the church
• Tower, almost free, made of bell tower.
  Tower, almost free, made of bell tower.
• 
  Rennaisance reredos

New Palace

New Palace, its cover opens to the square called Plaza de Carlos III el Noble. At the end of 14th century the King of Navarre Charles III "the Noble" of the house of Evreux, performs expansion works at the Old Palace in order to give the court a stationary and stable residence. While first reforms consisted repair the building and open new spaces for new courtesans needs soon outgrew the castle, so it had to consider the construction of new buildings that could accommodate the royal court. If it add that his wife Elanor of Castile did not feel special predilection for the Old Palace considering it old and uncomfortable, motivated the construction of a new Palace-Castle of new plant.

Charles III married Eleanor of Castile in 1375 and had eight children; notes Blanche that would be Queen of Navarre between 1425 and 1442 and Prince of Viana's mother, this prince would die without leaving decency. Charles III is buried in the Cathedral of Pamplona with his wife who had died in 1415.

Between 1395 and 1400 several houses along the Old Palace were purchased in order to begin construction. Impulsed by Elanor of Castile Old Palace facilities were expanded from behind the iglesia de Santa María la Real.

But the important works of the palace are work of King Charles III. These began in 1406 and were comissioned to Saúl de Arnedo and in 1424 the works were almost completed except some minor stays.

Built with large stone walls, adopts a polygonal shape with incoming and outgoing somewhat untidy and numerous towers covered with slate roofs instead of the originals that were covered with covered with lead roofs.

At the time the castle palace was considered the height of the most luxurious European courts. The interior decoration of which nothing remains except a small remainder was composed of plasterwork, tiled and azulejos, stained glasses and gilded coffered ceilings. The floors and walls were covered with tapestries.

In the works of this palace intervened many artists of various nationalities, example of Eclecticism prevailing in the courtly constructions of the time; French influence is evident in towers, windows and balconies, while the Hispanic transpires in adarves flown on dogs in degradation as well as coffered ceilings, tiles and plasterwork.

File:View of the Palace of the Kings of Navarre of Olite.jpg

Hanging gardens of the New Palace.

In addition availabled of hanging gardens, some nearly 20 meters high, garden areas, orchards and a zoological park that included a lion (gift from king of Aragon Pedro IV the Ceremonious), a camel, parrots, hunting dogs, hawks, four African buffalos, a giraffe, squirrels etc.

The entrance to the palace is through Plaza de Carlos III el Noble. The cover consists of a semicircular arch leads into an inner square known as Patio de los Naranjos, because in this place the king had commanded orange plants and other fruit trees. Today the floor is paved but originally was a garden with trees and flowers of various species: lemon, orange, Alexandria's jasmine, mulberries etc.

From this place can observe the external structure of iglesia de Santa María la Real's apse and the start of the temple's tower.

The care of the gardens were many gardeners, although in the care of them also involved the kings themselves, more than anything else as entertainment. For watering gardens a complicated system of irrigation was performed using lead pipes it was made in 1409 by Juan D'Espernou and later in 1414 by John Nelbort of Bristol. As winter was cold, the trees were protected by awnings that were attached to the walls, in the manner of greenhouses.

Sala de las excavaciones

(Excavations's room), it was the palace's old guard body. In this room it has found a vaulted room whose function is unknown, and it was filled with materials from the Old Palace.

Sala de los Arcos

(Archs's room) also known as Bat's cave. this popular name came for its almost total absence of light and that is a large room whose only function is to support the weight of the Queen's garden located at the top. It is covered with large pointed arches.

Cuerpo principal or Gran Torre

(Main body or Great Tower) is the main body of the Castle, on the first floor is the apartments of King and Queen, on the second floor is the Exhibition Room, with the exhibition "Olite, throne of a Kingdom ". Continuing up the spiral staircase arrived at the Tower of Homage. A total of 133 steps.

Torre del Homenaje

(Tower of Homage) known as the Torre de la Vit (vit in French is snail, and is named for the spiral staircase that runs along its inside). 40 meters high, is the highest tower of the palace, this tower is the only concession of a military nature that can be found in the palace. Rectangular base, on the corners of its terrace are four small circular turrets that give a certain lightness to the sturdy walls of ashlar. On the main floor in addition to the main rooms of the king and queen, can find some minor rooms that were to be used by the ladies and the kings service.

Sala de la Reina

(Queen's room) This is the private rooms of Queen, featuring the chimney and stone benches located next to windows. It was decorated with wooden baseboards, tapestries, paintings and plasterwork of Morisco tradition. The floor was paved with glazed bricks, while the ceilings sported wood paneling with gold accents. The windows were closed with stained glass. Beside it a small room known as Queen's toilet. The floors were covered with carpets and tapestries.

Sala del Rey

(King's room) is a large room that served mainly as banquet facilities, laso has another small room that was used as a resting place of the monarch. It has stone chimney and large Gothic windows with benches.

Cámara de los Yesos or Sala Mudéjar

(Plasters's chamber or Mudéjar room). It is the only that preserved the original plasterwork decoration. Are ten panels are made in plaster by Moriscos teachers, representing heraldic shields, stars, bows, arabesques and vegetal decoration. Highlights the chestnut leaves of Charles III's badge. It remains closed and can not be visited to avoid damaging the plasterwork that are in pretty bad condition.

Galería del Rey or Galería Dorada

(Gallery's King or Golden gallery), is a gallery next to the King's chamber that overlooks the courtyard known as Patio de las Moreras. Composed of a wing with arches of Gothic tracery. These are two superimposed Gothic arches, the lower higher than the top. Divided into three vertical sections separated by diamond pillars, the two of the ends formed of five arches while the center is formed only four.

Galería de la Reina

Galería de la Reina

(Queen's gallery) Located next to the Queen's chamber, it is a small garden for the exclusive use of the Queen. It lies within the typological known as hanging gardens since it is located several meters high. For the construction of these gardens it had to build a room known as the Arches to substantiate the gallery. The gallery is entirely rebuilt in a cloister way and is formed by high arches with Gothic tracery small ornaments at the top. This garden is one of the places sheltered from the wind, so it is the ideal place to build the Queen's garden.

Sources

• Mariano Carlos Solano y Gálvez, Marqués de Monsalud "El Palacio Real de Olite", Boletín de la Real Academia de la Historia, 49 (1906), pp. 435–447.

External links

• Castillo palacio de Olite at CastillosNet
• Palacio de Olite at Guiarte Navarra
• Palacio Real de Olite at Navarra.es
• Castillo-Palacio Real de Olite (unofficial site)
• Fotos del Castillo de Olite (Navarra) at EuroResidentes