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Conjunto monumental
Castillo Berlanga de Duero
The Palace Gardens
The masonry consolidation and the archaeological
campaing carried out in this unique garden, have
revealed interesting data so as to imagine what this
space could have been like. Amongst these findings
are the discovery of several fountains, their hydraulic system and the colorful nymphaeum attached to the southern wall.
The palace's gardens of the Dukes of Frias, built during the 16th and 17th centuries, admired by former kings and courtiers, are still to be found in their original layout covering the steep slope of the monumental walled enceinte. The Gardens, structured in six stepped terraces allowed impressive views into the surrounding countryside.
On the slope's uper area two terraces can be perceibed. In the historic map they are named "Lonja"(walking corridor) and "Banco para verduras"(Terrace for vegetables). In the lower four gardens can be found arranged in an "L" shape; they are called "Jardín más alto" (Highest garden), "Jardín alto" (Upper garden); "Jardín en ondo" (Lower walled garden) or the so-called Winter Garden; and a second "Jardín en alto" (Upper garden). The last ones have a strong ornamental character due to the presence in each of them of central fountains, some of which have been found during the archaeological campaign carried out. In order to provide water for the fountains, a former waterwheel brought water from outside the wall to the interior enceinte. It was located between the Jardín "en ondo" (Lower walled garden) and the "Jardín alto" (Upper garden). This waterwheel carried the water along water runnels located on the wall supplying by gravity the existing fountains.
The Winter Garden is located on the slope, in a sunken space as regards the other gardens and thus making it singularly different from them. It was therefore an ideal place to enjoy the morning sun, sheltered from the cold wins in wintertime and enjoying great privacy so as to be intimate garden of the Dukes of Frias. Current research and restoration interventions are taking place in thisgarden as regards masonry consolidation and an archaeological campaing that has revealed interesting data about this unique space.
Within these findings stand out the nymphaeum and its fountain basin, which has been sheltered; the remains of
a circular fountain, diferent hidraulic conductions and the
balaustrade that topped the perimeter garden wall. Likewise, during the archaeological campaing work undertaken in the upper garden a fountain basin has been unearthed. This fountain was the central piece of a covered loggia from where the surrounding landscape could be admired.
Reproduction of the garden in 3D and hydraulic systems
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