The Parador de Jarandilla de la Vera occupies the old castle-palace of the Counts of Oropesa. It dates to the 16th century and still conserves its ditch and towered walls, along with an exceptional two-floored Gothic gallery in the interior patio.
The castle was the residence of its most illustrious guest between 1556 and 1557. It was selected as a refuge by the emperor Carlos V after he abdicated, and he lived here for several months before finally setting up home in the nearby monastery of Yuste.
The Parador is both ancient and redolent of comfort, where proud towers and the large courtyard coexist with an exceptional swimming pool surrounded by olive and orange trees. Inside, the elegantly designed salons with fireplaces will take you back in time, while offering an atmosphere of peace and privacy.
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The Citadelle of Quebec is an active military installation and official residence of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. It is located atop Cap Diamant, adjoining the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City. The citadel is the oldest military building in Canada, and forms part of the fortifications of Quebec City, which is one of only two cities in North America still surrounded by fortifications, the other being Campeche, Mexico.
The first fortifications in Quebec were built by the Governor General of New France Louis de Buade, and completed just in time for the Battle of Quebec in 1690.
After the British conquest in the second half of the 18th century, the problem of Quebec City's defences grew more acute.