The Alcazar of Toledo

Toledo (Castilla-La Mancha, Spain) is known for its beautiful historical-artistic heritage, for its medieval streets and for being one of the cities with the most history in which diverse cultures were mixed since the XNUMXst century AD.

Its emblem is the imposing Alcázar of Toledo built on rocks in the highest part of the city. A building that has survived wars, disasters and the inexorable passage of time but that still remains imperturbable and grandiose at the top of Toledo today.

At present, the Alcázar is the headquarters of the Army Museum and the Regional Library of Castilla-La Mancha. If on your next vacation you want to know the so-called city of the three cultures and its majestic Alcázar de Toledo, in this post we will tell you all about its origins and history.

Name of the fortress

Its name comes from the Arabic "Al-Qasar" which means fortress. Under Islamic rule (from AD 711 until its liberation at the hands of King Alfonso VI of Castile in 1085) it received this name and later became known as Alcazar.

History of the Alcazar of Toledo

Located in a strategic point, its origins are found in Roman times and during the Visigothic conquest, Leovigildo established his capital here and made modifications to the building that was initially considered a great fortress.

Already in the Middle Ages, during the reigns of Alfonso VI and Alfonso X El Sabio, it was rebuilt giving rise to the first square-plan fortress with a main facade of three bodies and towers at the angles but It is in the XNUMXth century when Emperor Carlos V and his son Felipe II ordered the construction of the Alcázar of Toledo as such.

In the XNUMXth century, during the War of the Spanish Succession, it suffered a fire that destroyed it because of the confrontations between the supporters of the Habsburgs and the Bourbons. It was restored again after winning the Bourbon house but, years later, on the occasion of the Spanish War of Independence, the French set it on fire. After the war against Napoléon, the Alcázar of Toledo was rehabilitated and began to be used as a military academy.

This fortress was once again the scene of battles when during the Civil War the republican army besieged Colonel Moscardó of the national army, his supporters and their relatives (including the elderly, women and children) in its interior for a long time. Republican attacks destroyed almost its entire structure but Moscardó managed to resist without being defeated until General Franco came to his rescue. After the war, in 1961, Francisco Franco rebuilt its exterior in an identical way to the original style.

At present, the Alcázar of Toledo has been remodeled to become an Army Museum. During the work, Roman remains (water cisterns), Visigoth and Muslim ashlars and from the time of the Trash dynasty (led by Juana La Loca) were found, which provided very interesting data about the history and inhabitants of this beautiful city. For example, Roman water cisterns, Visigothic ashlars, an Arab wall and a hanging garden from the XNUMXth century were found.

Army Museum

The Army museum is located in two buildings: the historic Alcázar and the new one. The first has been destined for permanent exhibition. It is divided into thirteen rooms in which specific collections are exhibited and eight rooms in which a chronological itinerary through Spanish military history is presented.

The new building, on the other hand, houses the temporary exhibition room, the current Army room, the administrative units, the archive, the library, the didactic classroom, the auditorium, the restoration workshops and the warehouses equipped with the best techniques for the conservation and restoration of the funds they house.

Regional Library

The Alcázar of Toledo currently guards the Regional Library of Castilla-La Mancha, made up of its more than 380.000 volumes and its collections of special value (such as the Borbón Lorenzana) in addition to its status as a cultural space thanks to its magnificent facilities.

Schedules and rates of the Alcázar of Toledo

Schedule

It opens from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m. all year round except January 1 and 6, May 1, December 24, 25 and 31. As of April 9, the museum will close on Mondays (holidays included).

Price Plans

Ticket sales up to 30 minutes before the museum closes and the eviction will take place 15 minutes before closing.

• General admission, 5 euros (under 18 years old, free)
• Ticket + Audio guide, 8 euros
• Reduced ticket + Audio guide, 5,50 euros
• Reduced ticket, 2,5 euros
• Free admission: every Sunday, March 29, April 18, October 12 and December 6.