A Journey into the Industrial and Architectural Past of the Bourbons

Nuevo Baztán, located about 50 km east of Madrid, stands out for its eighteenth-century historic center, promoted by Juan de Goyeneche as an industrial complex with glass factory, settlers' houses, palace and church, designed by José Benito de Churriguera between 1709 and 1713. Its orthogonal layout, centered on the palace-church and articulated in connected squares, forms a singular baroque ensemble. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, it preserves its original structure, with cobblestone streets, traditional houses and monumental spaces, making it a valuable example of urban planning and enlightened industrial architecture.

Designed as the founder's residence, the palace occupies the left side of the complex and has a square floor plan with two levels. Its style, sober and elegant, is far from the exuberant Churrigueresque baroque style. The bequets that frame the openings stand out, as well as the main balcony, adorned with vegetal scrolls, cut-out plaques and the head of a lion holding the checkered coat of arms of the Baztan Valley, a symbol granted in 1212. The whole is finished off with a later noble coat of arms, from the middle of the 18th century, which alludes to the titles of Marquis of Belzunce and Count of Saceda.

The church was built to legitimize the new population center and facilitate access to mass and sacraments. Initially, a chapel was used inside the palace, but soon an exterior church dedicated to San Francisco Javier, of Navarrese origin, became necessary. It has three naves with a barrel vault and a well-proportioned transept. Its main altarpiece stands out, the work of Churriguera in Cuenca marble, presided over by the titular saint. The central medallion shows his evangelizing work. The only baroque touch is a golden curtain that gives the whole a distinctive scenographic air.

The set of squares of Nuevo Baztán articulates its urban space. In front of the Palace is the Plaza de la Iglesia, which retained its baroque layout until the nineteenth century. Next to it, the Plaza del Mercado, with the remains of the original porch, gives access to the Plaza de Fiestas. On both sides of the Palace were located the houses of the trusted staff, in the Austrian-Madrilenian style. In the Plaza del Mercado there is a building possibly used as stables. The Plaza de Fiestas, of Castilian inspiration, hosted public events with upper galleries and balconies for the nobility.