At Plaza de la Villa in central Madrid, the Torre de los Lujanes is a 15th-century house and tower, named for the Luján family who lived there. Its Gothic-Mudéjar details and coat of arms make the facade worth a closer look as you cross the square. A local legend links the building to Francis I of France, said to have been held there after the Battle of Pavia. The tower is now the headquarters of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.
A medieval house in Plaza de la Villa
The Torre de los Lujanes stands in Plaza de la Villa, one of the remaining groups of medieval Mudejar-style buildings in Madrid. Built in the 15th century, the house and tower belonged to the Luján family, a wealthy merchant family who were the first residents. The building is regarded as Madrid’s oldest civil building and one of its oldest surviving homes.
The facade is the main detail to study from the square. Look for its Gothic-Mudéjar features and the coat of arms. The building’s present use is as the headquarters of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.
The story of Francis I
A legend says that Francis I of France was held in the tower after his capture at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 by the forces of Emperor Charles V. Accounts differ on whether he was imprisoned here or hosted in the building, so treat the connection as a legend rather than a confirmed detail of the visit.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is the Torre de los Lujanes?
It is at Plaza de la Villa in central Madrid, at C. del Codo, 3.
How old is the Torre de los Lujanes?
The house and tower date from the 15th century.
What architectural style is the Torre de los Lujanes?
It is a Gothic-Mudéjar building and part of one of Madrid’s remaining medieval Mudejar-style groups.
Was Francis I of France imprisoned in the tower?
A legend links Francis I to the building after the Battle of Pavia in 1525. The story varies between him being held prisoner and being hosted there.
