How to visit Gaudí Palace in Astorga (León): schedules, prices

Did you know that in the province of León you can visit two of the three only buildings that the brilliant Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi built out of Catalonia, Together with Comillas Whim in Cantabria?

In addition to Botines house for the city ​​of Leon, in the province you can visit the Episcopal palace of Astorga, which should be an essential stage on a trip from the center of the peninsula to Galicia.

We have had the opportunity to visit it during our recent trip to the León region of the bierzo to meet again Las Médulas, spectacular landscape of ancient Roman gold mines, a declared place Heritage.

When you arrive to Astorga for visit Gaudi's palace, you will find that this building configures with great monumental ensemble when placed next to the walls of Roman origin, from the 3rd century, and the Cathedral of Santa María.

The latter began to be built in 1471, and was not finished until the XNUMXth century, so it presents a mix of architectural styles, with Renaissance and Baroque facades.

But, without a doubt, the archiepiscopal palace who built Gaudí It is the building that will catch your attention the most, with its characteristic neo-gothic style.

Curiosities history of Gaudí's palace in Astorga

Surely at first you wonder how it is that Gaudí built this building in Astorga.

The origin lies in the arrival in 1886 of Don Juan Bautista Grau y Vallespinósnatural Reus, to assume the position of Bishop of Astorga.

At the end of that year, the Romanesque building of the then archiepiscopal headquarters suffered a devastating fire, which led to the Bishop Grau to ask your neighbor and friend Gaudí to build a new building.

The project was launched in 1889, but the death of the bishop in 1893 made the completion of the works difficult due to discrepancies between Gaudí and Diocesan Board.

Although in 1905 they tried to convince the architect to resume the project, the works were finally completed in October 1913 by another architect.

But the building did not become the definitive archiepiscopal headquarters, and over time it had various uses, such as military barracks during the Civil War.

Finally, in 1963 it was decided that the Gaudi palace was the headquarters of the new Museum of the Roads dedicated to the Camino de Santiago.

What to see when visiting Gaudí's palace in Astorga

When you go to visit Gaudi's palace, the first thing that will catch your attention is its spectacular exterior. neo-gothic style, with an image of a castle or stately palace.

At that time the Catalan architect was influenced by the medieval gothic, providing its own design solutions, and in anticipation of its evolution towards the Modernism.

On the outside there are four facades with four towers, and its pointed windows will remind you of a Gothic cathedral.

The building is accessed through a large porch with arches and a vault.

At interior they are arranged four floors in whose rooms the collection of the aforementioned is displayed Museum of the Roads.

In the great entrance room various architectural elements are seen, such as capitals and vaults with a mozarabic, and the glazed ceramics of Moorish style.

On the upper floors, elements such as ribbed vaults, star capitals and stained glass windows stand out.

With regards to collection of the Museum of the Caminos, during your visit you will be able to see pieces of religious art related to the pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago, such as Romanesque carvings, Gothic paintings or goldsmithing.

The museum also preserves archaeological objects from the Roman and medieval times found in excavations carried out in Astorga and other nearby places.

Finally, the museum also displays a collection of works by contemporary Leonese artists.

Gaudí Palace in Astorga schedules

The Hours of Gaudí's palace in Astorga They are, from May to September, every day of the week, from 10 a.m. to 14 p.m. and from 16 p.m. to 20 p.m., with last access half an hour before closing.

From October to April, the hours to visit the palace are from 10,30:14 a.m. to 16:18,30 p.m. and from XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.

Since they vary depending on the time of year, here you can consult the schedules to visit Gaudí's palace.

You can also visit Gaudí's palace for free on Mondays at the end of the day, both in the morning and in the afternoon, yes, requesting tickets in the contact form on the official website, at least 24 hours before the visit.

Gaudí Palace in Astorga ticket prices

The ticket prices to visit Gaudí's palace The general tour is 6 euros, and the guided tour is 9 euros.

You also have the option of skip-the-line visit with the official premium guide book, a visual route that they give you at the box office. Here you can buy this special ticket.