Royal Stables

The Royal Stables of Córdoba were declared a National Historic Monument in 1929, becoming part of the National Heritage. They were founded by royal decree of King Philip II (1556-1598) in 1570, with the aim of breeding purebred Spanish horses to serve the Hispanic Monarchy. This is why the Andalusian horse is considered the quintessential Spanish horse. The construction works were overseen by the king’s chief equerry, Don Diego López de Haro y Sotomayor, grandson of Doña Beatriz de Sotomayor, Marchioness of Carpio, and Diego López de Haro, gentleman of Castile.

Location and surroundings

Don Diego chose the location for the stables, either by his own decision or with the monarch’s opinion, in the San Basilio neighborhood, next to the former grounds of the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs, which was itself built over the ancient caliphal stables that extended to the banks of the Guadalquivir River and, during the reign of Alhaken I, housed more than two thousand horses.

Historical development

The mares were kept in pastures and lands of “Old Córdoba“, “Alameda del Obispo”, “Dehesa de la Rivera”, “Gamonosas”, “La Pendolilla” and “Cortijo el Alcaide”, among others. Thus, after more than thirty years of dedication, Don Diego, who also became a veinticuatro (councilman) of the city of Córdoba and Marquis of Carpio from 1580, wrote to the king that “the quality of Córdoba’s horses is the greatest treasure your majesty has in the world.”

However, in the 18th century, a fire completely destroyed the stables, so, years later, King Charles III (1759-1788) ordered their reconstruction. They remained royal property until the reign of Ferdinand VII (1808-1833), after which they passed to state ownership. In this regard, the work of the Spanish Army stands out, as from 1866 it was responsible for continuing the horse breeding tradition. Until 1995, the stables building was owned by the Ministry of Defense, at which point the Army’s Stallion Depot was relocated to Écija. In 1996, the Subdelegation of Defense in Córdoba was moved there, until in 2002, the building was transferred to the city council.

Architecture and facilities

The Royal Stables form an impressive rectangular building with large vaulted halls that served as stalls. Its vast central courtyard distributes the various facilities, among which stable number I stands out for preserving its original appearance. The building of the stables on the ground floor is one of the main elements of the Royal Stables. The main stable features a groin vault supported by sandstone columns, which in turn separate and define the different stalls or boxes. Other elements of interest include the Riding School, the Wall Tower, as well as the open space of the gardens.

Recent uses

The historic building has been the headquarters of the Regional Secretariat for Southern Europe-Mediterranean of the Organization of World Heritage Cities. At the beginning of 2006, the Cavalry Section of the Local Police was moved there. Until recently, the administrative offices of the Córdoba Tourism Consortium and the Department of Tourism and World Heritage of the City Council of our capital were located on the first floor. Likewise, the organizations Córdoba Ecuestre, the Córdoba Convention Bureau, and the Córdoba Film Office were based in the building until March 2008. There is also an office for the Montilla Moriles Designation of Origin.

Visiting the Royal Stables

If you are wondering what to do in Córdoba, we recommend visiting the Royal Stables by booking one of our guided tours. Choose quality tourism with qualified staff—don’t hesitate, ArtenCórdoba is the best option.

Text: Jesús Pijuán.

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