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All Mexico Xilitla Posada el Castillo
AO Edited

Posada el Castillo

The former home of surrealist Edward James, who gave Xilitla its main attraction.

Xilitla, Mexico

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linkogecko
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Hallway of the hotel.   Carlos Adampol Garrido/cadampol
The Castillo’s watchtower.   Carlos Adampol Garrido/cadampol.
View of the Sierra Gorda from the Castillo.   Emma
Wooden maquettes of architectural features that can be found in Las Pozas.   Carlos Adampol Garrido/cadampol
The Castillo’s watchtower.   Carlos Adampol Garrido/cadampol
Posada el Castillo   Carlos Adampol Garrido/cadampol
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About

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.

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Know Before You Go

Tours of the building are available for non-guests for $100 MXN per person. The tours take place daily at 1 pm and 7 pm, lasting for 40 minutes.

A maximum of 20 people can take part in the tours and they can be booked on the phone by calling +52-489-1135-858.

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linkogecko

Published

August 23, 2021

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Sources
  • https://www.coxandkings.co.uk/destinations/central-america/mexico/accommodation/posada-el-castillo
  • https://www.ciudadypoder.mx/la-posada-castillo-xilitla/
Posada el Castillo
105 Melchor Ocampo
Xilitla, 79900
Mexico
21.386307, -98.990287
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

Leonora Carrington Museum

Xilitla, Mexico

miles away

Las Pozas

Xilitla, Mexico

miles away

Sótano de las Golondrinas (Cave of Swallows)

Huehuetlán, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Xilitla

Xilitla

Mexico

Places 3

Nearby Places

Leonora Carrington Museum

Xilitla, Mexico

miles away

Las Pozas

Xilitla, Mexico

miles away

Sótano de las Golondrinas (Cave of Swallows)

Huehuetlán, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Xilitla

Xilitla

Mexico

Places 3

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