Parador de Lerma

Spain – Castilla y León – Burgos – Lerma

17th-century palace

4-star

Dominating the main square of the small town of Lerma, some 35 km south of Burgos, is the splendid 17th-century Palacio Ducal de Lerma, now a luxurious Parador. The palace was commissioned from the architect Francisco de Mora by Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, first Duke of Lerma, as ‘a place of lodging, rest and general enjoyment’ for King Philip III. The massive square building has a spired turret at each corner, and a large central courtyard surrounded by arcades featuring both Tuscan and Ionic columns. Restoration and conversion into a hotel was completed in 2003 and the interior décor, elegant and noble, and the Parador’s facilities – which include a sauna and a heated pool – have sought to respect the atmosphere of the former palace. The excellent restaurant serves a range of regional dishes, including Morcilla de arroz (blood sausage made with rice), game such as hare in season, Torta de Aranda (special olive-oil bread from Aranda), and a variety of delicious cakes and sweets made by the Poor Clares in the town’s convent.

There is garage parking at this Parador.