SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE: Parador Hotel & Restaurant Carlos V

Fabled Castle Dropped from Heaven
PARADOR HOTEL & RESTAURANT CARLOS V
Avda. Garcia Prieto 1
Jarandilla de La Vera, Extremadura, Spain 10450

By Margaux Cintrano
Photos: The Parador Hotels ( Bilingual Website: Http://www.parador.es )
unless otherwise stated

Located in the county of La Vera, Cáceres, snuggly nestled in the Grédos Mountain Range, the XV Century restored castle of Emperor Carlos V, this royal gem of the Renaissance awaits you.

Emperor Carlos V, was the most powerful man in the world. During his reign, he resided in this historic 15^th century castle for almost one year (November 12^th, 1556 until February 3^rd, 1557), before retiring to the Yuste Monastery, 8 kilometres away in Cuacos, a visit not to be missed.

This renovated 4 star hotel is a fortified 15^th century castle which dates back to the Counts of Oropesa and was built over the ruins of a fortress that had been reconstructed centuries later and was inhabited by King Alfonso XIII.  It has all that a castle should have:  a Blue Room with a fireplace, 15^th century tapestries, a Salon of Portraits, a Patio of Arms, robust corner towers, migrating storks, embrasures, machicolations, turrets for gunners and heraldic shielded crests.

The Italian Renaissance prevails throughout and the dining room views look out onto a beautiful courtyard, which is a sanctuary covered in ivy, shaded by palms depicting the region´s  microclimate and houses a fountain, all creating the privileged paradise for after-dinner drinks and conversation through late Autumn.

Through the years, without sacrificing the original structures, one enters across a draw-bridge between two cubic fortress towers.  Conquering visitors´ emotions are the breathtakingly beautiful gardens chockful of lilac bushes, ancient eucalyptus trees, orange trees, and the lovely swimming pool. This is a nobleman´s castle in every sense of the word.

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NOBLE ROOM 219 WITH BALCONY & GARDEN VIEWS
My room, one of the best in the house, amidst the aromatic gardens complete with private balcony, provided a royal refuge in this privileged paradise of sweet dreams.

CAPACITY FOR BOOKINGS
The three-story castle houses 52 renovated rooms which seduce and safely keep the treasures of royalty in its salons and common spaces.  Debonair Mâite Julian Sevilla informed us that the hotel is fully equipped for those requiring handicap railings, business conventions, christenings, family celebrations and weddings with a capacity for 250 people.   The restaurant holds up to 80 people and  special breakfasts for up to 60 people.

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INTERVIEW WITH CHEF JUAN ANTONIO RAMOS DE LA CALLE

Margaux:   Tell us about the specialties of the house.

Chef Juan:   Firstly, the designation of origin, La Vera is renowned for their goat cheese and the four varieties I am going to provide for you are  Quesuco Blue Vein, which has an extraordinarily creamy texture; Pimenton which has a smoked paprika rind and is a semi soft variety; the French style roll Rulo de Cabra , and the ecological mild semi soft.

Margaux:   What is your culinary philosophy?

Chef Juan:  Clearly, it is to cook with what the environment provides, a united team, to teach, the content, the affection and passion, new technology and the traditional with the regional and seasonal, the product, the textures; I consider myself the Santi Santamaria extremeño.

Margaux:   Interesting analogy.   Where are you from, Chef Juan Antonio ?

Chef Juan:   Right here, I was born and raised in the historic town of Jarandilla de La Vera.

Margaux:   What are the winter products that you employ in your menus ?

Felipe González, former prime minister

Chef Juan:  Quail, partridge, rabbit, wild mushrooms, Boletus Eduli, and wild boar,  fresh figs, the La Vera smoked paprika called Pimentón, Iberian acorn fed ham, cod fish, fresh river carp and fresh wild trout and herrings.

Margaux:   Which celebrities have your cooked for ?

Chef Juan:  I have cooked for various members of the Spanish Royal Family, former Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez,  vocalist Shakira and Alejandro Sanz who both have homes in Jarandilla de La Vera.

Margaux:   Do you listen to music in your kitchen while preparing ?

Chef Juan:   Definitely, as I am a hobbyist Flamenco guitarist.  This inspires me .

THE EMPEROR´s TABLE

1. White Wine: Lar de Barros 100% Macabeo Grape Mono Varietal
2. Assorted designation of origin charcuterie and local cheeses
3. French-style Onion Soup
4. Warm smoked herrings served with scalded eggs
5. Stuffed aubergine stuffed with hake and baked apple
6. Seared flame braised tender octopus
7. Quail in Port wine with spiced pears
8. Dessert: Buñuelos, a cross between a doughnut and a French Toast bread stuffed with pine nuts and creamed goat cheese fillin

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BACKGROUND ON THE GOVERNMENT  OWNED PARADOR-HOTEL CHAIN

In 1928, the Spanish government, at the initiative of Marqués Vega Inclán and King Alfonso XIII, opened the first Hotel Parador of Tourism in the heart of the Gredos Mountain Range in Navarredonda de Gredos,  Ávila.

Since then, the Parador Hotel Network has been rescuing ancient hilltop castles, intriguing historic fortresses, impressively enchanting monasteries, majestic medieval convents, princely mansions, massive octagonal towers and noblemens´ manor houses.

My belief is that all 83 of the paradors are worth visiting 365 days a year.

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Additional image:
Felipe González uploaded by user Rastrojo (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rastrojo), CC-BY 2.0