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All Spain Alcorcón Castles of Valderas
AO Edited

Castles of Valderas

A historic castle that served as a backdrop to part of an elaborate extraterrestrial hoax.

Alcorcón, Spain

Added By
Luis Morato
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View of the main castle   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
View of the main castle   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Detail of the tower   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Ummo´s UFO over the castles in 1967   Unknown
A symbol of Alcorcón   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Throwing rockets with propaganda during the Spanish Civil War   Unknown (Source: Spanish National Library)
The main castle house the MAVA (Museum of Art in Glass of Alcorcón)   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Detail of the façade   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The castle during the Spanish Civil War   Unknown (Source: Spanish National Library)
Castle   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
View of the castles   De Zarateman / Public Domain
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About

These centenary castles in Alcorcón (a southern suburb of Madrid) were designed by the architect Luis Sainz de los Terreros: the main castle for the Marquis of Valderas and his family, and a smaller one for personnel. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), it housed General Franco during the offensives to capture Madrid. In 1967, it served as frame for an alleged UFO "sighting" in the context of the bizarre Ummo affair.

In 1917, José Sanchiz de Quesada, Marquis of Vasto and known in Alcorcón as Marquis of Valderas, ordered the construction of three palaces. They were built in Saxon style inspired, remotely, by the castle of Chambord in France. Beside it, there were built other two smaller; one of them was used like a particular chapel and the other one for the servants. Important figures of the early 20th century, such as King Alfonso XIII and the dictator Primo de Rivera, visited the castle to attend parties and hunts, due the proximity of the royal hunting ground of Venta de la Rubia.

At the beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the castles were abandoned. The nationalist leaders Franco and Mola were installed in the main castle, because of its proximity to the front lines of Madrid. Even in old photographs from the National Library can be observed militaries doing experiments with rockets to throw propaganda on the republican lines.

After the Marquis died, the buildings have taken on several uses, including a brief period where they were used as a school. Ultimately the castles were abandoned. But there was a strange case that returned to the present and even to the front pages of the newspapers, at least for a few days, to the ignored buildings.

On June 1, 1967, there was a strange sighting of a flying saucer with the Ummite symbol. In the 1960s, a series of communications allegedly from an extraterrestrial civilization on the planet Ummo gained a lot of attention. Those who believed the stories saw in this incident the confirmation of their beliefs. It wasn't until the early 90s that José Luis Jordán Peña admitted that he had created the elaborate hoax. 

In the 80s, the castles were in a dilapidated condition. In 1988, the sixth Marquis of Valderas donated the castles to the Municipality of Alcorcón. The restoration project was carried out in the 90s the chapel (the smaller castle) was demolished given its deteriorated state. The main palace currently houses the Museum of Contemporary Art in Glass of Alcorcón. 

Related Tags

Castles Architecture Ufos Aliens Hoaxes

Know Before You Go

The MAVA (Museum of Art in Glass of Alcorcón) is situated into Los Castillos Park (Alcorcón), 16 km (10 miles) south of Madrid Tube station: José Vilumbrales Commuter train station: San José de Valderas

Community Contributors

Added By

Luis Morato

Edited By

Xavixavir

  • Xavixavir

Published

June 2, 2021

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Sources
  • https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillos_de_Valderas_y_Museo_de_Arte_en_Vidrio_de_Alcorc%C3%B3n_(MAVA)
  • https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ummo
  • http://magonia.com/tag/ummo/
Castles of Valderas
13 Av. los Castillos
Alcorcón, 28925
Spain
40.353177, -3.806637
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Nearby Places

Museo de Esculturas

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miles away

Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Museo del Aire)

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alcorcón

Alcorcón

Spain

Places 2

Nearby Places

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miles away

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miles away

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alcorcón

Alcorcón

Spain

Places 2

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