The 13th-century Cistercian palace recently rescued in Spain

The Palacio de Los Contreras, a 13th-century fortification in the municipality of Laguna de Contreras, has been rescued from the risk of disappearance after a 14-year rehabilitation effort. Funded by the Junta de Castilla y León, the project was completed in 2022 and cost 49,765 euros. The list of cultural heritage sites in Spain updated on February 28, 2022, shows that the Palacio de Los Contreras has now been moved from the Lista Roja del Patrimonio to the Lista Verde del Patrimonio, which is a list of cultural heritage sites that are considered to be in good condition.

The Palacio de Los Contreras was first built in 1130 by Alfonso VII the Emperor, who granted the church of San Pedro el Vengador with its countryside house and monastery to the Bishop Pedro de Agén. The Palacio de Los Contreras is located on the right bank of the Hoz stream and is surrounded by a fortified wall. The fortress is adobe and stone, with a walkway and parapets, and has several rooms, including one with a chimney. Stables and barns were also part of the fortress.

A garden to the west is surrounded by a fortified wall. The current ensemble is greatly modified and retains the remains of the stone and adobe wall and the adobe wall with parapets in the upper part. The entrance gate opens through a lowered arch, resulting from a 16th-century reform. The north and south walls of the garden still exist. The current chapel is known as the Capilla de las Ánimas and only the apse and the start of the side walls remain.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons