The Castillo de la Emperatriz Eugenia de Montijo, located near Bilbao in the Basque Country of Spain, is a stunning neo-Gothic chateau that resembles Fontainebleau Castle and other royal residences in France. It was originally built to reflect the claim that the Prince Imperial was of Viscayan descent, though the imperial family never dwelt in the chateau.
The chateau features ogival arches, gargoyles, double windows, and battlements, and is faced with gray marble and red jasper around the arched windows. The central tower is a rectangle of 17 by 12 meters attached at an angle to an octagonal tower. The chateau was designed by French architects Gabriel-Auguste Ancelet and Louis-Auguste Couvrechef, and many of the works were made by French entrepreneurs and artisans.
According to an 1882 travel guide, the chateau had been restored in sumptuous style but was not finished. Today, the property has been converted into an upscale hotel with 13 rooms and one suite.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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