Castillo de Javier
Castillo de Javier · Pamplona
Por Spain ·
Important works of art are preserved here, such as a collection of Spanish paintings from the 15th to the 20th centuries and a collection of 19th-century Japanese kakemonos. It also houses numerous historical documents.
Its origins date back to the 10th century. The co-patron saint of the Autonomous Community of Navarre was born here in 1506. It served as the residence of several wealthy families, such as the Artiedas, the Jaso-Azpilicuetas and the Aznárezes. Throughout its history, the fortress has undergone various transformations.
Thus, at the end of the 15th century, the Palacio Nuevo was added to it, the building in which the saint was born.
This site is now occupied by a basilica built in the 20th century. Inside the castle, highlights include an 18th-century Flemish wax sculpture depicting Saint Francis Xavier in his final moments; a 16th-century altarpiece, carved from polychrome alabaster, depicting the Adoration of the Magi; and several murals on the theme of the Dance of Death.
Another of its treasures is the Chapel of Christ, presided over by a 15th-century polychrome wooden carving depicting Jesus on the cross.
Also of note are six enormous Baroque canvases by Godofredo Maes, as well as a sculpture of St Francis Xavier holding a lily, created around 1622, the year of the saint’s canonisation. The castle was converted into a museum in 1986, following a major archaeological restoration.
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