Castell de Bellver is one of the most famous and interesting Gothic castles in Europe. It is located about three kilometers from the center of Palma on the famous island of Mallorca. The word Belver translates as "Beautiful View", the name was given for a reason. Belver Castle is located on a wooded hillside at the entrance to the port and offers a very good view of the city of Palma.
The history of the castle:
The building has remained practically unchanged to this day. It was built in the 14th century, more precisely in 1300-1314 by order of Jaime II, King of Mallorca. The Belver Castle in Palma was to monitor access to the bay and the city, especially in the western part. It also served as a royal residence and experienced years of fame during the reign of Jaime II of Mallorca. The castle was built on the site of the mosque.
Beginning in 1717, Belver served as a military prison. Between 1802 and 1808, Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, a Spanish politician, economist and student of the Enlightenment, was imprisoned in one of the cells on the ground floor. Many French officers and even soldiers were also imprisoned after their defeat in the battle of 1808. Later, in 1931, according to a new project, it became a Museum of the History of the city.
Belver Castle in Mallorca is considered an architectural jewel of Mallorca. The building has a circle shape, it was decisive for its originality. From the outside, it is surrounded by a moat. Three semicircular towers grow from the thick walls, the fourth is located at a distance of seven meters from the main castle building, and in the center of the castle is a courtyard.
The inner courtyard is surrounded by monasteries, which consist of two floors. The lower floor has semicircular arches, while the upper floor has pointed arches with Gothic-style rib vaults. The castle has many rooms where you can admire the artifacts collected during the turbulent history of the castle and the city of Palma. The flat roof of the castle, which serves as a viewpoint, offers an unforgettable view of the city and the port.
There is a museum in the castle, which is closed both on Sundays and on public holidays. The rest of the visiting hours coincide with the visiting hours of the castle itself. In the museum you can see archaeological exhibits and Roman sculptures, which were collected by Cardinal Antonio Despucci.
Belver Castle is open to the public from May to August, Tuesday to Sunday. The opening hours are from 10:00 to 19:00. On Mondays, it is closed.
It is also possible to visit the castle in March, April, September and October, but visiting hours are reduced by one hour in the afternoon, from 10:00 to 18:00. During the rest of the year it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The ticket costs 2.5 euros. Students and pensioners pay 1 euro, children under 14 have the opportunity to visit the site for free. On Sundays and holidays, when the museum is closed, the entrance to the castle is free.
Address: Carrer Camilo José Cela, s / n, 07014 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
