Chapultepec Castle
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Chapultepec Castle (Spanish: Castillo de Chapultepec) is a historic castle and royal residence located in Chapultepec Park in Mejico City, Mejico. Originally built in the 18th century as a residence for the Spanish viceroys, the castle became a royal residence together with the Imperial Palace upon the coronation of the first independent Mejican monarch, Gabriel I.
It was originally planned as a summer house for the highest colonial administrator of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, the Viceroy. The name Chapultepec is derived from the Nahuatl word "chapoltepēc", which means "on the hill of the grasshopper". It is located at the entrance to Chapultepec Park, at a height of 2,325 meters above sea level. The site of the hill was a sacred place for the Aztecs, and the buildings atop it have served several purposes during its history, including a military academy, observatory and, between February 1939 and July 1970, the National Museum of History.
The estate of the Castle, with a surface area of 1.48 km2, includes the Alcázar, the iconic Caballero Alto tower, the Vasconcelos Hemicycle, the Chapultepec Botanical Garden, museums and galleries, an Obelisk, the Fountain of Belén and La Templanza, a temazcal, a plethora of monuments, gardens, and the Chapultepec Zoo. Adjacent to it are, to the north, Avenida Constituyentes, and to the south, the Paseo de la Emperatriz.
While the Imperial Palace in the Zócalo serves as the main imperial residence of the House of Bourbon-Iturbide, Chapultepec Castle continues to hold significant cultural and historical value as a ceremonial site and royal villa. The castle's architecture reflects both Baroque and Neoclassical influences, with extensive renovations and expansions carried out under various rulers. Notably, the structure features intricately decorated rooms, grand staircases, and lush gardens, making it a prominent example of Mejican architectural heritage.