Surrealist Edward James’s “Las Pozas“ sculpture garden is often known to locals and visitors as his “Castillo” (castle). His actual abode when living in Xilitla, however, was what is now the appropriately named Posada el Castillo hotel. James collaborated with Plutarco Gastelum in building Las Pozas, and the Posada was originally the Gastelum family home. His descendants continue to run the business today. 

While Las Pozas was a more collaborative effort—most often credited to James than to Gastelum—el Castillo was almost certainly more Gastelum’s work. One of its main features nowadays might be the many wooden maquettes of whimsical shapes that would later be built in concrete into Las Pozas, as well as a mural by James’s friend, fellow Brit and surrealist Leonora Carrington.

Gastelum’s architectural flair is on full display here, with some of the most notable quirks including a watchtower jutting out the top, which offers impressive views of the Sierra Gorda mountains that define the Huasteca region where Xilitla is located. The eight rooms available to rent at the hotel are all individually named and include the Don Eduardo room, named after Edward and supposedly his former room in Xilitla.