The primitive fortress of Simancas was built between 1467-1480 by the Enríquez family, admirals of Castile, who ended up ceding it to the Catholic Monarchs in 1490. Since then it was used as a deposit of valuable objects (weapons, money, etc.) and mainly as a prison real maximum security.

Between 1540-1545 Emperor Charles V created, in one of the towers of this castle (since then called the "Archive tower or cube"), the Simancas Archive, intended to guard the most important legal documents for the Castilian Monarchy.

However, the great transformation of the Archive occurred in the second half of the 16th century, during the reign of Felipe II, when all the documentation (not a selection) generated by multiple central organizations of the Hispanic Monarchy began to be collected there: a valuable information resource at the service of power. In order to respond to this growing volume of documents, the extension of the Archive (until then limited to the aforementioned tower) over a large part of the fortress was addressed, in accordance with the project (1578) of the royal architect Juan de Herrera, although this action was not would complete until well into the seventeenth century.

Image gallery

Image gallery

Historical Data

Construction
Castle / Fortress / Watchtower

When to visit it?

Opening hours

    From January 1 to December 31:
  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturdays, Sundays and Public holidays: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Taxes

Free

Observations: Guided tours (only weekdays Monday to Friday). The General Archive of Simancas offers three types of free guided tours (general, educational and professional), which must be requested in writing at least 15 calendar days in advance of the date of the requested visit. More information (regulations, application forms, etc.) on the official website of the General Archive of Simancas: https://www.culturaydeporte.gob.es/cultura/areas/archivos/mc/archivos/ags/expósitos-activityes/ visits-ags.html

This portal is not responsible for possible changes in the schedules and rates reflected

Get to know the surroundings

Within a radius of

    Address and map location

    How to arrive
    Around
    Where to sleep
    Where to eat

    Skip map

    Tourist information

    • Simancas town hall

      Address
      To know more

    • Simancas tourism office

      Address
      To know more

    • Valladolid tourism office

      Address
      To know more