Museo del Carlismo de Estella

About the museum

The Museo del Carlismo is devoted to preserving and disseminating the history of Carlism in Navarre and in Spain within the context of the 19th and 20th centuries. It is a cultural centre of the Government of Navarre, created by agreement of the Navarrese Parliament in 1997. In 2000 the Carlist Party placed its historical legacy (flags, uniforms, decorations, paintings and photographs) on indefinite deposit, to which were added assets of the Government of Navarre and pieces lent by institutions and individuals. The museum opened its doors on 23 March 2010.

Its seat is the Palacio del Gobernador, on Calle de la Rúa, along which the Camino de Santiago passes. It was built between 1608 and 1613 by Juan de Echávarri y Larráin, Baron of Purroy, and is organised around a two-storey courtyard with arcades on Doric columns. The town council acquired the building, then in ruins, in 2000 and handed it over to the Government of Navarre, which restored it and built an adjoining building for administration and the documentation centre.

The permanent collection brings together portraits of pretenders and members of the Carlist family, standards, uniforms of papal Zouaves and of the requetés (Carlist militia), sabres and objects from the war and political life, together with works on deposit from the Museo del Prado and a painting of the battle of Lácar. The museum also has a documentation centre, an educational programme and a programme of temporary exhibitions and guided visits.

Highlights

• Palacio del Gobernador, a civil palace of 1608–1613 on the Camino de Santiago
• Royal Standard of the Carlist troops, 1833
• Portraits of Carlos VII and other pretenders, with works on deposit from the Museo del Prado
• Uniforms of a papal Zouave and of a requeté officer
• Documentation centre on Carlism
• Free guided visits in Spanish and Basque

Permanent exhibition

• Exposición permanente sobre el carlismo – A tour through the history of Carlism through portraits, flags, uniforms, weapons and documents, with works on deposit from the Museo del Prado and the Carlist Party.

Founded

2010

Operated by

Gobierno de Navarra (Dirección General de Cultura – Institución Príncipe de Viana)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Saturday afternoons and Sundays; 18 May, 27 September, 12 October, 3 and 6 December.

The website also lists free admission, with accreditation, for minors, people over 65, pensioners, unemployed people, ICOM members, teachers accredited by their school and people with disabilities.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The website presents the museum as accessible; it does not detail the facilities.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The programme includes children's workshops and storytelling sessions, as well as educational workshops for school pupils.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on Calle de la Rúa, the axis of the Camino de Santiago as it passes through Estella.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit