Part of the Roman Walls, High and late Imperial Period. Roman Intepretation Centre, Plaza Puerta del Castillo, Leon
This is a marvellous museum explaining the foundation of Lron by the Roman's and their consequent history here.
The ancient Roman walls of Leon had four entrances, one for each of the four cardinal compass points and they provided access to the four principal streets of the town.
The Arch of the Prison or Castle Gate is one of these entrances and the only one which survived after the Bishop's gate, which was located between the Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace, was demolished in 1910. The present arch was reconstructed in the 18th century but conserves part of the original medieval structure as can be seen from various inscriptions. Nowadays it serves to connect the Plaza de Espolon and the Plaza de Puerta del Castillo.
The name Prison Arch was adopted from the castle alongside, which in its day served as the city prison. It is said that this building was built on the Roman wall in the middle ages taking advantage of the fortifications tha t ajready existed.
in 1649 the Duke of Hijar was imprisoned accused of consonpiracy against Felipe IV and he died there after 15 years of imprisonment. Over the years it was used intermittently as a place of reclusion until 1976 when it assumed the function of storing the Historic Archives of the City of Leon. A function it continues to carry out to this day.
Part of the Roman Walls, High and late Imperial Period. Roman Intepretation Centre, Plaza Puerta del Castillo, Leon
This is a marvellous museum explaining the foundation of Lron by the Roman's and their consequent history here.
The ancient Roman walls of Leon had four entrances, one for each of the four cardinal compass points and they provided access to the four principal streets of the town.
The Arch of the Prison or Castle Gate is one of these entrances and the only one which survived after the Bishop's gate, which was located between the Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace, was demolished in 1910. The present arch was reconstructed in the 18th century but conserves part of the original medieval structure as can be seen from various inscriptions. Nowadays it serves to connect the Plaza de Espolon and the Plaza de Puerta del Castillo.
The name Prison Arch was adopted from the castle alongside, which in its day served as the city prison. It is said that this building was built on the Roman wall in the middle ages taking advantage of the fortifications tha t ajready existed.
in 1649 the Duke of Hijar was imprisoned accused of consonpiracy against Felipe IV and he died there after 15 years of imprisonment. Over the years it was used intermittently as a place of reclusion until 1976 when it assumed the function of storing the Historic Archives of the City of Leon. A function it continues to carry out to this day.