Posada El Castillo (The Castle Hotel) is a surrealist castle of sorts. Perched on a hill in Xilitla, Mexico it is also the former home of the super wealthy, eccentric, aristocratic Englishman (I’m sure there is an oxymoron somewhere in that description) Edward James. James hung out with surrealists including Salvador Dali and Leonora Carrington. True to its roots the hotel’s architectural style is dreamlike.
Plutarco Gastelum built the former mansion and Las Pozas (The Pools), a surrealistic sculpture garden designed by James. James left English society for Mexico where he spent 20 years building Las Pozas (more on that later). He lived with Gastelum and his family at El Castillo.
The hotel is an informal gallery full of treasures. Entry is though a wrought iron gate with footprints leading you though a garden. Murals by Carrington are tucked away in corners.
El Castillo has eight unique rooms, each with their own name. We stayed in the aptly named Rose room. Terraces and tall Gothic windows allow beautiful views of the mountains and sub tropical landscape.
Gastelum’s charming descendants run the hotel, which also features a pool and a large lounge where you can daydream about the parties once held there. Prices range from about $60-$130 per night.
Plutarco Gastelum built the former mansion and Las Pozas (The Pools), a surrealistic sculpture garden designed by James. James left English society for Mexico where he spent 20 years building Las Pozas (more on that later). He lived with Gastelum and his family at El Castillo.
The hotel is an informal gallery full of treasures. Entry is though a wrought iron gate with footprints leading you though a garden. Murals by Carrington are tucked away in corners.
El Castillo has eight unique rooms, each with their own name. We stayed in the aptly named Rose room. Terraces and tall Gothic windows allow beautiful views of the mountains and sub tropical landscape.
Gastelum’s charming descendants run the hotel, which also features a pool and a large lounge where you can daydream about the parties once held there. Prices range from about $60-$130 per night.
6 comments:
Looks like nice place to stay. Is it expensive?
I'd love to see this place for real some day.
I love places like this. The whimsy and the charm make it almost a destination by itself.
Hi Rajesh-it ranges from $60-120 a night.
Erica-I think you would love it.
Fly Girl-It was a destination in itself.
That sounds like my kind of place, I love hotels with an artistic touch.
I visited in '08 and stayed at a relatively new hotel, Hotel Aurora, just up the street from the bus station. $35-$40 a nite.
Another decent hotel, Hotel Guzman, just off the square is another option...has a/c, tho you don't really need it...$30-$40 a nite.
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