Gothic castle Belver: history, description, how to get, opening hours

Famous for its good environmental conditions andThe wonderful scenery of the island of Mallorca (Mallorca) is a wonderful place to relax. But not only the magnificent nature beckons tourists from all over the globe, the largest island of the Balearic archipelago is known for the diversity of cultural and historical attractions, concentrated in its capital.

The large Mediterranean resort of Palma de Mallorca is full of architectural monuments. Among them stands the gothic castle of Belver, whose name translates as "a wonderful place".

Symbol of the capital of the island of Mallorca

Located near the center of the capital, a sample of medieval architecture stands at the very top of the hill. From the viewing platforms located on the roof, amazing views of the city and the bay.

Belver, considered to be the symbol of the capital, was built at the beginning of the 14th century at the behest of the ruler Jaime II. The prototype was the Jordan fortress Herodion of unusual form with four towers.

The Royal Palace and the defensive structure

A building with a stone moat and an outer wall withThe loopholes served simultaneously as a royal residence and fortress, guarding access to Palma de Mallorca. The interest of tourists is a unique feature of the massive citadel - this is the only Gothic structure in Spain of non-standard round shape.

A castle oriented to the four directions of the worldBelver from above looks like a huge compass. The fact is that in the walls of the ancient building are built three cylindrical turrets, and located a little further from them the fourth, the largest, connects with the fortress with a massive arch bridge. In the walls of the Spanish fortress are visible the outlines of small towers.

Gallery and interior spaces

Inside the pine forest surrounded on all sidescastle is a cozy inner courtyard, along the perimeter of which is a two-level gallery. The rounded arch of the lower floor supports 21 square columns. The rooms of the two-story castle with a courtyard are communicated via a covered gallery.

The upper tier consists of gothic-style arches resting on forty-two octagonal columns, which emphasizes the Italian style, skilfully connecting gothic and antiquity.

On the lower floor of the castle there were economicrooms and small rooms for servants without windows, and on the second there were luxurious royal quarters, a reception hall for guests, a kitchen and a chapel.

In the courtyard was built a large well-tank, which supplied the inhabitants with drinking water.

From prison to the museum

Four centuries later, the castle became a prison forpolitical criminals, and the dungeon of the largest tower, 25 meters high, served as a single cell for prisoners. Among the prisoners were the famous personalities of that time: the widow of King Jaime III with sons, the physicist F. Aragon, the famous writer and public figure Gaspard Melchor de Hovelianos, who described in detail the peculiarities of the building structure.

It is interesting that in 1936 Bellver Castle again turned into a prison for rebels-nationalists. They also built an automobile road leading to the main sight of the capital of the island.

Forty years ago in a well-preserved citadelhave opened a museum, exhibits which tell about the history of the city, starting from the first settlements. Large cultural events are often held in a quiet courtyard.

Bellver Castle: how to get there?

The address of the fortress, which has not lost its greatness, is: Carrer de Camilo José Cela, s / n, Palma, Mallorca.

It is possible to reach the castle independently by buses numbered 3, 46, 50, which will take you to Placa de Gomila, and from the square to the local architectural monument you can walk uphill no more than 15 minutes.

Visit to the city's sightseeing

Bellver Castle, whose opening hours depend on the time of the year, is open to everyone on a daily basis, except on 25 December and 1 January. Before visiting it is necessary to familiarize yourself with all the nuances.

From April to September, the fortress takes tourists from 08:30 to 20:00. On public holidays and on Sundays from 10:00 to 20:00.

From October to March inclusive, the castle awaits guests from 08:30 to 18:00. On holidays and Sundays, the castle is open from 10:00 to 18:00.

If you decide to visit Belver on Monday, then remember that after 13:00 the architectural gem of the island is closed.

However, travel agencies warn thatThe visit time is often changed due to city events that take place in the courtyard of the castle, so it is better to specify in advance the data on the official website.

Combining the grace of the royal palace and powerthe defensive fortress of Bellver Castle, whose photo admires its amazing shape, is in an incredibly picturesque place. Visiting the ancient structure will bring even a touch of history to the guests of Mallorca a lot of impressions, and beautiful memorable photos will be a pleasant addition to the fascinating journey to the Spanish island.