Torre de los Lujanes

The Casa y Torre de los Lujanes on the Plaza de la Villa is one of the oldest architectural ensembles in Madrid. The building combines a manor house complex with a massive, fortified tower in the Mudéjar style, notable for the distinctive horseshoe-arched doorway on its facade. While the tower dates to the early 15th century, the house is from the second half of the same century. The complex was originally the residence of prominent figures such as Pedro de Luján. The site has a varied history: according to tradition, King Francis I of France spent the night here during his captivity, and in the 19th century the tower served as a station on an optical telegraph line. Later, the building housed various learned societies and academies. Following a restoration that returned it to its original appearance, the complex is now an important piece of historical evidence of the city's past. Visitors can admire the unique blend of residential and defensive architecture, which served different functions over the centuries.