| Bellver Castle | |
|---|---|
| Palma de Mallorca,Spain | |
 Aerial view of the castle | |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Palma de Mallorca City Council |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 39°33′50″N2°37′10″E / 39.56375°N 2.619338°E /39.56375; 2.619338 |
| Height | 112 m |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1311 |
| Built by | Pere Salvà |
| Materials | Marès |
Historic site | |
| Official name | Castillo de Bellver |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | June 3, 1931 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0000411 |
Bellver Castle[1] (Catalan:Castell de Bellver,locally[ˌbeʎˈvə]) is aGothic-stylecastle on a hill 3 km to the west of the center ofPalma on the Island ofMajorca,Balearic Islands,Spain. It was built in the 14th century for KingJames II of Majorca, and is one of the few circular castles in Europe.[2] First serving as the residence of theKings of Majorca, and afterward long used as amilitary prison throughout the 18th to mid-20th century, it is now under civilian control, being one of the main tourist attractions of the island, as well as the seat for the city's History Museum.[3]
The castle's plan, a circular floor with round towers attached to it somewhat like theHerodion, a 15 BCE hilltop palace in theWest Bank, that was also circular and had a large principal tower and three minor towers as well. They are attached while the principal one is coupled to the complex by a high bridge over the surroundingmoat.
The Castle has clear Islamic influences in its original design, displaying double Arches characteristic ofMoorish architecture, a part of the fortification was built by architectPere Salvà, who also worked in the construction of theRoyal Palace of La Almudaina, together with other master masons between 1300 and 1311 for King James II of Aragon and Majorca. Rock from the hill where the castle sits was used for the building, which has eventually led to the appearance of cracks.Once the castle had been built, and following the introduction of artillery, the battlements on the top balconies and thebarbican disappeared, being soon followed by those in every tower; loopholes were built instead.
The castle originally served as a residence for theKings of Mallorca after theconquest of Majorca from theAlmohad CaliphateTaifa of Majorca, whenever they were not staying in mainland Europe, and was subsequently seldom used as a residence for viceroys during the 17th century. As a fortification, it suffered and successfully resisted twosieges during theMiddle Ages; the first of them in 1343, duringPeter IV of Aragon's campaign to reincorporate the Majorcan territories to theCrown of Aragon, and then again in 1391 during an anti-semiticpeasant revolt. The castle has only fallen once in its history into enemy hands, in 1521 after an assault during the Majorcan secondRevolt of the Brotherhoods.
The castle was usually governed by a LordWarden. In 1408, KingMartin I of Aragon gave the lordship of Bellver to the Charterhouse of Jesus of Nazareth inValldemossa.Charles of Viana arrived in 1459 to take possession of both the island and the castle, as he had agreed with his father KingJohn II of Aragon, even though finally the King did not grant the lordship or Bellver Castle.
Being an enclosed site, since the end of the 14th century it was used as a prison, firstly to hold QueenViolante of Vilaragut, her stepchildren James and Isabella and other supporters of KingJames III of Mallorca after his death in theBattle of Llucmajor in 1349. During theWar of Spanish Succession it was used to imprison first supporters ofPhilip of Anjou, and after theBourbon victory,Maulets (supporters of theHabsburg pretender). During theSpanish Independence War it was used to hold several prisoners captured at theBattle of Bailén and later, political prisoners, the most famous of these being the ministerGaspar Melchor de Jovellanos (1802–1808) who first made a description of the castle and commissioned the first blueprints and drawings of it. The castle served from then on as a political prison, used to lock up several important supporters of the subsequent Habsburgpretenders to the Spanish throne during the 19th century, and later notable republican and Catalanist leaders during the 20th century, includingAlexandre Jaume, Member of the Parliament who first won the castle for the city, andEmili Darder, who was the mayor of the city, both subsequently shot.[4]
Having been founded as a seat for the royal court of James of Mallorca, its structure combines the needs of a palace with defensive elements. The most notable feature in its structure is its circular shape, unique inMallorca. Both its surrounding wall and the inner yard are so-shaped, and so are the three minor towers and the donjon. A moat is found surrounding the castle and its donjon.
The circular inner yard must be highlighted. It has a well in the middle of it, which indicates there is a cistern underneath. The palace itself is structured as a two-story building around the central yard. All its dependencies face this yard through a gallery of gothic semi-circular arches.
In 1931, theSpanish Second Republic gave the castle to the city of Palma, along with the forest surrounding it. It became a museum in 1932, being restored in 1976 to become the city's History museum. Thanks to the parking lot and road built next to the castle, it currently welcomes a great number of visitors. The main yard is the seat to many different public ceremonies, such as protocol and cultural acts, and concerts. Due to its location and visibility from the sea or any other point of the city, it has become one of the city's symbols.
The surrounding forest encloses the stables of the city'sMounted Peelers. There is also a chapel dedicated to SaintAlphonsus Rodriguez, built between 1879 and 1885.
The Sunday following Easter Sunday, the citizens gather at the forest and the castle for the celebration of theDiumenge de l'Àngel.
