Royal Cloth Factory of Brihuega, 18th century royal textile factory in Brihuega, Spain.
The Royal Cloth Factory of Brihuega is an 18th-century manufacturing complex with a circular building layout arranged around a central courtyard. The structure features multiple levels, barrel-vaulted ceilings on the ground floor, and upper spaces originally designed for looms and spinning operations.
King Ferdinand VI founded this manufacturing center in 1750 through a Royal Charter on an elevated site that previously held the Santa Lucia Chapel. The facility grew to become a key production hub for Spanish textile manufacturing during the latter half of the 1700s.
The facility drew skilled textile workers and technicians from across Spain to produce fine fabrics and establish Brihuega as a manufacturing center. The place became known for the quality of its cloth and the expertise of its craftspeople.
When exploring the site, take note of the different levels and the central courtyard, as the circular layout makes it relatively straightforward to navigate. The best approach is to walk around the outer rings first and then move toward the central courtyard to gain a complete view of the entire complex.
The gardens created in the early 1800s incorporate design elements inspired by the Palace of Versailles, commissioned by the wife of industrialist Justo Hernandez Pareja. These gardens contrast sharply with the industrial functionality of the complex and reveal the ambition to transform the factory into a more refined setting.
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