Castillo Echauri - Atlas Obscura

Castillo Echauri

Vista Alegre, Paraguay

In the middle of a sleepy Paraguayan village, a more than 20-meter-tall medieval castle protrudes into the air.  

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From afar, the Echauri Castle’s Gothic architecture has the potential to make tourists feel like they’ve stepped back in time and have been transported to medieval Europe. However, don’t be fooled by this hidden gem in the Paraguayan countryside. The Echauri Castle was, in fact, built between 1995 and 2000 by architect Guillermo Echauri to pay tribute to his ancestors who moved from Navarra, Spain, to Paraguay

Located just over 100 miles away from Asunción, the castle is constructed of concrete, brick, and stone. Its towers and terraces provide visitors with tranquil views of the Ybytyruzu mountain range. While the castle was used as a private residence for 20 years, the Echauri family opened it up to the public in May of 2021.

Today, visitors can enter not only to see this unique bit of Gothic architecture in the middle of a rural area, but also to take pictures with medieval pillory and relics from their favorite fantasy series (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and Lord of the Rings, to name a few).

 

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