Chapultepec Castle at the Chapultepec Park is a great way to kick off Mexico City. It combines a castle, a national museum, a huge park with lots of activities, and most importantly – a grand view of Mexico City from above. Although most of the exhibitions are not in English, and you’ll need a guide to fully appreciate everything going on, it has a lot to offer to any visitor. You can easily spend half a day there and then the rest of the day around the park strolling around and enjoying some outdoors local food near the large lake. Also in the nearby area are the National Museum of Anthropology and the Tamayo Museum, not to mention the expat friendly lively Polanco area for great food and night-life, so there’s plenty to see and do.
The Mexico City Guide has the introduction:
From its location at the top of Chapultepec Hill, Chapultepec Castle is the eternal witness of Mexico’s history; as it has watched armies, presidents and emperors, who have left a permanent mark on the nation, walk among its walls and gardens.
Chapultepec has always been a crucial place for Mexican history; since pre-Columbian times some sanctuaries existed there and it was a place of rest for the Aztec emperors. This place was thought to have magical importance by the Aztec people, as they considered there were two entrances to the underworld: one in the city of Mitla in Oaxaca, and the other in a cavern in Chapultepec Hill, which today is a bit hidden but it’s still visible on the southern side of the hill. Also, the springs of the area supplied the populous city with water during this time, and later, in times of the Viceroyship.
At the end of the 18th Century, in 1780 to be exact, the Viceroy Matías Gálvez started the construction of a residence at the top of Chapultepec Hill that would later become a Military School. During the American invasion of 1847, it was one of the last bastions that resisted in Mexico City. Later, in the 1860’s, the emperor Maximilian of Hapsburg arranged this site as his residence because he was captivated by the beautiful views of the Valley of Mexico that could be appreciated from that place; he beautified the castle by adding gardens and sophisticated interior decoration and communicated Chapultepec Castle with the Historical Centre by creating a Parisian style boulevard, which is now the renowned Reforma Avenue With the passing years the Castle became the home of all of Mexico’s presidents until, in 1940, Lázaro Cárdenas donated it to the nation so it could become the National History Museum.
Apart from having priceless historical objects, this magnificent building also allows us to learn how presidents and emperors used to live, as well as granting us a beautiful view, considered by many the best in the whole city.
We’ll start from the view. I was very lucky to have white fluffy clouds with clear blue skies, making Mexico City look absolutely fantastic…
Then, ofcourse, you have the castle with the history of Mexico City…
With very interesting inside layout and architecture…
And different rooms with different styles and art pieces …
And historical artifacts…
Also offering a look at the glamour of the lives of the former residents …
Outside, some gardens, sculptures, and fountains…
Location:
One of the highlights of any visit to Mexico City. Much more on this wonderful city soon to follow…