Moctezuma Palace: Wellington against Napoleon

The Moctezuma palace, also called the Cornejo or de la Tierra palace, is at Plaza del Conde 2. It is a building from the late 16th or early 17th century, in a sober Herrerian style; in the entrance hall an inscription recalls that it was the Casa de la Tierra or de los Sexmeros. In 1928 it became a secondary school, and since 1984, when the king and queen opened it, it has been the Casa Municipal de la Cultura. Inside it holds the permanent exhibition "Ciudad Rodrigo in the War of Independence. Wellington against Napoleon", free, which takes about 45 minutes to see.

The exhibition

It tells the story of the years 1810 to 1812, when the city was on the front line of the War of Independence: the French siege of 1810 and the British one of 1812, with which the Duke of Wellington's allied army recovered the town. The pieces are from the collection of J. R. Cid: historical documents, weapons, military maps, portraits and letters. The town council recalls a curious detail: the name of Ciudad Rodrigo appears on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, something it presents as a mistake by Napoleon, who underestimated the Spanish guerrilla and Wellington's allied troops. The building also has a large room for temporary exhibitions.

Opening hours and guided visits

It is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 17:30 to 20:30, and Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 20:00. Admission is free. On Saturday and Sunday there are guided visits to the exhibition at 12:30 and 18:00. For questions, the phone number is 923 461 862, and the municipal tourist office gives information on 664 346 580 or at [email protected].

How to fit it into the visit

The Plaza del Conde is in the old town, a few minutes from the Plaza Mayor; on the same square is the Montarco palace, from the late 15th century, which was General Herrasti's headquarters during the War of Independence and whose patio can be seen on Tuesday from 10:00 to 12:00. To continue with military history, the Puerta del Conde and the fortifications centre explain what the besieged fortress town was like, and on the wall walk you pass beside the small breach of 1812, near the Puerta de Amayuelas. In the cathedral, the tower keeps the marks of the bombs of that war.

It is a visit for teenagers and adults with an interest in history; with small children, it helps to go on the weekend guided visit or to call first at the models in the fortifications centre.