Palacio Real de Olite
| Palace of the Kings of Navarre of Olite | |
| Palacio de los Reyes de Navarra de Olite (Spanish) Erriberriko Errege Jauregia (Basque) Royal Palace of Olite |
|
| First there was a roman fortification, after a medieval castle and then a royal palace, currently is an hotel and also a touristic site | |
| Country | Spain |
|---|---|
| Autonomous community | Navarre |
| Merindad | Merindad de Olite |
| Municipality |  Olite |
| Architects | Saúl de Arnedo, Juan D'Espernou, other unknown. |
| Style | Gothic, some Mudéjar elements. |
| Established | Roman rule, Navarrese rule. |
| - Start of Navarrese construction | 13th century |
| - Completion | 1424 |
| - Rehabilitation | 1937-1967 |
| For public | Public |
| Visitation | Open |
| Heritage designation | Spanish Property of Cultural Interest |
| Registration name | Castillo Palacio Real de Olite |
| Designation category | Monument - Military architecture - Castle-palace |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0000306 |
| Designated | 1925 |
The Palace of the Kings of Navarre of Olite or Royal Palace of Olite is a castle-palace 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).
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 (...)
This monument was quite damaged (except the church) 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 largely restored from 1937 in works that lasted for 30 years giving it back its original appearance. Nevertheless, miscellaneous architectural decoration of its interior, and the outside gardens, were lost.
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.
On an ancient Roman fortification was built during the reign of Sancho VII of Navarre "the Strong" (13th century) and extended by his successors Theobald I and Theobald II, which the latter was is installed in the palace in 1269 and there he signed the consent letter for the wedding of Blanche of Artois with his brother Henry I of Navarre, who in turn, Henry I 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 during that time, as the castle was occupied intermittently by kings according to their preferences. So it had the presence of King Charles II of Navarre in 1380, 1381 and 1384.
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Wikipedia