Showing posts with label Figueres. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Figueres. Show all posts
Saturday
Sant Ferran Castle in Figueres
We weren't planning to visit this castle, but we overheard a man at the train station saying it was a good place to visit. We are so glad we went. There had just been a rain storm, and hardly anyone was at the castle. It is the largest monument in Catalonia. It is a fairly contemporary castle as far as castles go - and has some well engineered defenses. If you are interested in learning more you can follow this link. We took a self-guided audio tour.
Below are some deer grazing in the mote.
This is inside a courtyard that is similar to a fort set up in the United States. The arches on the left are part of a church that was never completed. The church was being built to withstand a direct hit from a bomb. They were taking so much care to make it bomb proof - the foundation was built so well, that they never finished it.
These are the unfinished columns in the church.
Inside the castle.
I believe these are part of the aqua duct system below ground level.
This is a picture looking into the space where the church would have risen above the other buildings.
This is an example of soldier living quarters. When a lot of space was needed they put an extra floor in this room so there were 2 levels of beds.
This courtyard was many things over the years. The tile is from a period when the yard was a canteen for soldiers.
Walking down to the stables underground.
The stables underground were the most surprising and amazing part of our tour. Down this tunnel 250 horses could have been kept. The castle was partly destroyed during the Spanish Civil War, so the other side of the stables was ruined - but when it was in full operation, each side of the sables could house 250 horses. Just incredible to imagine. There were some ventilation features added to the stables so the tour story said the air was fairly clear in the stables.
The bins on the left are the troughs for the horses. We learned when we got home that there are jeep tours that take you underground at the castle - and also underground rafting tours that take you through the cisterns and underground plumbing. We will have to go back!
Below are some deer grazing in the mote.
This is inside a courtyard that is similar to a fort set up in the United States. The arches on the left are part of a church that was never completed. The church was being built to withstand a direct hit from a bomb. They were taking so much care to make it bomb proof - the foundation was built so well, that they never finished it.
Inside the castle.
I believe these are part of the aqua duct system below ground level.
This is a picture looking into the space where the church would have risen above the other buildings.
This is an example of soldier living quarters. When a lot of space was needed they put an extra floor in this room so there were 2 levels of beds.
This courtyard was many things over the years. The tile is from a period when the yard was a canteen for soldiers.
Walking down to the stables underground.
The stables underground were the most surprising and amazing part of our tour. Down this tunnel 250 horses could have been kept. The castle was partly destroyed during the Spanish Civil War, so the other side of the stables was ruined - but when it was in full operation, each side of the sables could house 250 horses. Just incredible to imagine. There were some ventilation features added to the stables so the tour story said the air was fairly clear in the stables.
The bins on the left are the troughs for the horses. We learned when we got home that there are jeep tours that take you underground at the castle - and also underground rafting tours that take you through the cisterns and underground plumbing. We will have to go back!
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