Bellver Castle: 700 years of history

For the celebration of the 700 years of history of the Bellver Castle, the Palma Town Council has organised an exhibition and a cycle of conferences, that will take place in the Municipal Archive of Palma, in Can Bordils, Calle Almudaina, 9 in Palma.

EXHIBITION: BELLVER 1300-2000

The exhibition, that incorporates different materials relating to the castle supplied from a numerous group of people and entities will open on October 18 at 7.30 p.m. The exhibition which is free, will stay open from October 19 2000 until January 26, 2001. Visiting times, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. continuously.

PROGRAMME OF THE CYCLE OF CONFERENCES

All the conferences will start at 7.30 p.m. and the entrance is free. November 2, 8, 15, 22 and 28.

BRIEF HISTORIC NOTES ABOUT BELLVER CASTLE

The Bellver Castle was built ordered by King James II of Mallorca in 1300. The builders were Pere Salvà and Pere Despuig. The main characteristic of the castle is its circular form, which makes it a singular building in relation to the European castles of the gothic era. There is also a singular difference between the austere defensive exterior and the palatine architecture of the interior, with pointed arches of the upper gallery.

In its origins, the Castle was conceived as a royal palace. Towards the end of the XIV century, King Juan I of Aragon transferred his court to Bellver, fleeing from the plague that attacked the mainland (1395). In 1400 the civil government of the castle was ceded to the priors of the Cartuja.

During the Germanías revolt, it was a refuge for the nobles and merchantmen who were escaping from the city (1521) and in time, it became the temporary residence of viceroys, together with the Almudaina Palace.

In the XVI century, a great reform was carried out to introduce artillery. The battlements were removed, the south tower was renovated and a moat was constructed.

During the War of Succession the castle was used alternately by the Caroline and Philipine governments as a political prison and in 1717 it was converted in military prison with its own garrison. Under this use, the most important period was the last years of the reign of Carlos IV and the French War. The most popular prison was the Minister of Grace and Justice, Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos (1802-1808), who wrote during his confinement the works: "Memories of the Bellver Castle", "Historical, artistic description of the Bellver Castle" and "Topographic description of Mallorca observed from the Bellver Castle".

Other important prisoners were the French officers beaten in Bailén (1808), who left numerous graffitis. In the Civil War, over 800 people were imprisoned in Bellver, amongst other the member or parliament, Alexandre Jaume i Rosselló, shot in 1937, and the republican mayor, Emili Darder i Cànaves, also executed.

In 1931, the woods and castle were ceded by the central government to the Palma Council with the condition that a museum of antique art would be installed there. In 1947, the Council carried out an integral reform to adapt the castle to the new cultural use and in 1976 the Museu d'Història de la Ciutat de Palma was created. In 1998 and 1999 the last reform was carried out to the Museum and didactic material was edited for pupils. At present, the Council also uses the building for protocol and cultural activities, such as the cycles of classical music.

More information about exhibitions on Mallorca: Diary of exhibitions

Datum: 14/10/2000

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