At the top of the famous Cerro del Chapulín rises one of the favorite tourist places for everyone who visits Mexico City: El Castillo de Chapultepec. Its chambers housed Mexican emperors when they wanted to rest.
It has such luxurious facilities that it is considered the only royal castle in Latin America and for more than 50 years it has become the headquarters of the National Museum of History, but that has not managed to eliminate the curiosities that are hidden in its corners.
If you want to know what they are, you cannot miss these 10 things that you probably did not know about the Castle of Chapultepec.
1. It Evolved Over the Years
The transition from a royal palace to a history museum did not happen immediately, and in the process the Castle of Chapultepec it was used for various purposes.
After hosting emperors such as Miguel Miramón and Maximiliano, it was acquired by the City Council of Mexico City in 1806 to be transformed into a military college.
But with the arrival of the war of independence, it was abandoned until 1833 to be converted into the presidential home of several leaders with the establishment of the new constitution.
Finally, in 1939, the Castle of Chapultepec by decree of Lázaro Cárdenas it became the National Museum of History that is known today.
2. Auction Attempt
The Castle of Chapultepec It was built on the orders of Bernardo de Gálvez, then viceroy of New Spain. But death would come for him before seeing his work completed, causing the momentary suspension of its construction.
The new viceroy of New Spain, Vicente de Güémez Pacheco, would not be interested in the castle as a residence, offering it to the crown as the General Archive of the Kingdom.
However, this project also failed and there was no choice but to put the construction up for auction, which fortunately did not see the expected results and would be interrupted with the war of independence.
3. Was a Victim of a Bombardment
During the US intervention in Mexico, between 1846 and 1848, an event occurred that undoubtedly affected both the cultural heritage and the nationalist sentiment of Mexicans. It is about the bombardment of the Castle of Chapultepec.
Beyond the fall of several of its foundations, the greatest loss was the lives of a large group of children who, armed by the militia, defended the entrance of the castle.
This event occurred in 1847 and the names of these children known as Niños Héroes are still remembered today, who have a monument at the entrance to the forest of Chapultepec.
As for the reconstruction of the castle, it took at least 20 years to repair the damage caused by the bombardment.
4. The Royal Palace of Maximiliano and Carlota
The arrival of the Archduke of Austria, Maximiliano, and his wife Carlota to Mexico, brought the intention of crowning him as the highest president of the second Mexican empire, granting him the Castillo de Chapultepec.
During his stay, ostentatious restorations were made to make the castle as similar as possible to the European royal buildings, placing luxurious French furniture that is now on display.
5. The Construction of the Paseo de la Emperatriz
It is said that due to Charlotte's constant jealousy towards her husband Maximiliano, who sometimes did not come home with the excuse that going through the forest at night was extremely complex, it was decided to build a long avenue in a straight line to the entrance of the castle.
In addition to this, large balconies were built in the main rooms overlooking the avenue, so that Carlota could sit and wait for the arrival of her husband.
This avenue is still maintained today, only the name was changed to Paseo la Reforma.
6. Smoking Room and Tea Room
Among the more than 50 rooms that were built in the Castle of ChapultepecThe smoking room and the tea room stand out for their curious characteristics.
The first had as a rule the non-admission of women, since it was used by Maximilian to meet with other men to drink whiskey, smoke cigars and discuss various matters.
For its part, the tea room, although it did not have the rule of not admitting men, was little frequented by Maximiliano, despite the fact that it was Carlota's favorite to organize meetings with her friends.
7. It was Headquarters of the First Mexican Astrological Observatory
After the fall of the Second Mexican Empire and for a very brief period, the Castillo de Chapultepec It was used as a study center for the celestial bodies.
This happened in 1876, which is why it became the first of its kind within Mexican territory, which was later transferred to a building in Tacubaya by decree of the new government administration.
8. Has Been Used for the Film Industry
Due to its luxurious ornaments and natural landscapes, in 1996 the Castle of Chapultepec was chosen as the setting for the recording of Romeo and Juliet, a film starring Leonardo Di Caprio.
Although this is its biggest appearance in the world of cinema, it has also been used for scenes from other films such as Raquel's Bolero, by Mario Moreno, Cantinflas when we have the information.
9. It has also come to Videogames
In the popular video game Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, you can see in one of the missions how the protagonist goes through the forest of Chapultepec and passes around the castle.
Beyond its historical importance, this speaks of the magnitude of the Castle of Chapultepec as a cultural emblem for the rest of the countries of the world.
10. Exhibitions to the Public
Despite having become a museum of public category and having more than one hundred thousand pieces from the Victorian era and the High Renaissance, only 10% of the objects are exhibited to the public.
This is due to the fact that the theme of the museum is related to the Maximilian and Porfirian times, so a large number of murals and sculptures that have no link with these periods are simply stored.
Probably Maximiliano's gala carriage, with features typical of European culture, is one of the exceptions within the exhibits that you can find in this museum.
Despite this, there is much to go and observe in the Castle of Chapultepec, so it becomes an essential visit if you plan a tourist trip to Mexico City.
Which of these data did you find the most curious? Share your opinion about it below, in the comments.
