MONROY CASTLE: A 14TH-CENTURY BUILDING DECLARED SPANISH HISTORICAL HERITAGE, LOCATED IN MONROY (CÁCERES)
This guided tour offers a brief description of the castle and how it became a residence and workspace where Pablo Palazuelo created many of his works, restoring it to live and work as a painter.
Contact our guide to schedule an appointment.
The visit includes a tour of the castle and its gardens, encompassing its three enclosures.
At present, no works by the artist are on display.
Proceeds from ticket sales go towards the maintenance of the building.
Payment can be made via BIZUM using the guide’s phone number.
Adult ticket price: 7€
Child ticket price: 3€
History of Monroy Castle and Its Acquisition by Painter Pablo Palazuelo
The castle is located in the historic centre of Monroy, a town in the northeast of the province of Cáceres, about 35 km from the capital city of Cáceres, within the Autonomous Community of Extremadura. It spans an area of approximately 205 km² and has a population of 969 inhabitants (INE, 2018).
The area surrounding Monroy is characterised by flat terrain, with dehesas of holm oaks and pastureland dominating the landscape. Numerous underground aquifers surface as springs, ensuring that water is not a concern for the town.
On 21 April 1309, King Ferdinand IV of Castile granted Hernán Pérez de Monroy, cupbearer to Queen María de Molina, the privilege of building a castle and populating the area with up to one hundred residents. This marked the birth of present-day Monroy, under the shadow of its imposing castle-palace.
The Lordship of Monroy began with Hernán Pérez de Monroy the Elder and continued with Hernán Pérez de Monroy the Younger (2nd Lord of Monroy). The town’s development was tied to the fate of the lordship without major historical upheavals until the 15th century, when significant disputes arose between two branches of the family (the lordships of Monroy, Belvís, Almaraz, and Deleitosa). These conflicts led to sieges and plundering of Monroy and its castle.
During the 20th century, Monroy Castle belonged to the renowned painter and sculptor Pablo Palazuelo de la Peña. In 1970, he purchased and settled in the castle, undertaking a restoration project that lasted over a decade. Notably, the same materials used in its original construction were utilised in the restoration, and authentic pieces found during excavations were reproduced. It was in this setting that Palazuelo created many of his works.
The castle consists of three wings forming a U-shape around a courtyard, with four large towers at its corners. The main building is surrounded by a defensive wall forming the barbican, of which two of the original four albarrana towers remain. Attached to this wall is a large studio wing, while a moat surrounds three sides of the structure, with a depth of 4 to 5 metres.
First Enclosure
The oldest part of the castle, built in the 14th century. It is square in shape, surrounded by walls and four corner towers. While only the original structure remains, the interior rooms and dependencies have been modified over time.
Second Enclosure
Primarily built for military purposes, this defensive barrier was added in the 15th century. It includes a crenellated wall with a walkway, towers, cannon ports, and a deep moat.
Third Enclosure
The outermost enclosure consists of two cylindrical towers marking the current main entrance and a small wall. Some additions date back to the 19th and 20th centuries. Highlights include the impressive gallery on the southern façade, the Moorish courtyard, the five-metre-wide moat, and the towers, all admired by visitors.
Photo Gallery of Monroy Castle
