Spanish Paradores!--
Castles, Cloisters and Palaces--Oh my!
by
Marilyn King
Copyright (c) February 2003

Castles, cloisters and palaces in Spain never die--they just
become Paradores.

The word "Parador" (or stopping place) appears in many
classical Spanish texts. While the Posada (inn) was the
place where animals were stabled for the night (travelers
were not considered to be guests there), the Parador was the
lodging offered to persons of more respectable rank.

Based on this tradition, the Marques de la Vega-Inclan,
Royal Tourist Commissioner in 1926, had the idea of
establishing a chain of State Paradores. The project was
personally approved by King Alfonso XIII.

The first Parador was constructed in the Gredos mountain
(Madrid) range and was directly related to the sport of
kings--the hunt. Later as tourism and travel became popular,
Paradores were opened with distances corresponding to an
easy day trip in the automobiles of the time. This led to
the creation of the Parador of Manzanares and Bailen,
Oropesa and Merida. Currently the Paradores network consists
of 85 properties.

The basic philosophy of the Paradores was, and continues to
be--the State providing hotel accommodation in areas not
profitable for private enterprise to do so. However--there
is a second aspect to the Marquis de la Vega-Inclan's
initial concept. To take advantage as much as possible--of
ancient monuments, palaces, castles, old hospices, and
convents for building the Paradores.

Visit the Paradores! Make the pleasantly surprising
discovery that you are sleeping in the same room in the
Castle of Jarandilla de la Vera--where Charles V is said to
have stayed while waiting for his lodgings in the nearby
Yuste monastery to be prepared. Dine in the rooms which once
belonged to the Alcal