# Soneira Castle

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{{Infobox building
| name                = Soneira Castle
| native_name         = {{lang|es|Castillo Soneira}}
| alternate_names     = Casa Quinta Soneira
| image               = Castillo Soneira.jpg
| image_size          = 
| caption             = 
| location            = [Montevideo](/source/Montevideo), [Uruguay](/source/Uruguay)
| coordinates         = {{coord|-34.858730|-56.196555|type:landmark_region:UY|display=title}}
| status              = Complete
| construction_start_date = 1861
| completion_date     = 1871
| opening_date        = 
| inauguration_date   = 
| architect           = [Víctor Rabú](/source/V%C3%ADctor_Rab%C3%BA)
| owner               = 
| cost                = 
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| highest_region      = 
| highest_prev        = 
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| building_type       = {{hlist|[Housing](/source/Housing)|[Office building](/source/Office_building)}}
| architectural_style = [Gothic Revival architecture](/source/Gothic_Revival_architecture)
| current_tenants     = 
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| ren_architect       = [Camille Gardelle](/source/Camille_Gardelle)
| renovation_date     = 1912
| developer           = 
}}
The '''Soneira Castle''' ([Spanish](/source/Spanish_language): ''Castillo Soneira'') is a [neo-Gothic](/source/Gothic_Revival_architecture) building located in the [Prado](/source/Prado%2C_Montevideo) neighborhood of [Montevideo](/source/Montevideo), [Uruguay](/source/Uruguay). Constructed in the 1860s by French architect [Victor Rabu](/source/Victor_Rabu), it was designated a National Historic Monument in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Resolución N° 523/999 |url=https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/resoluciones/523-1999/1 |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=www.impo.com.uy}}</ref>

== History ==
Soneira Castle was commissioned by Dorotea Peláez Villademoros, the widow of Francisco Antonio Soneira y Aguiar, a [Galician](/source/Galicia_(Spain))-born merchant who settled in Uruguay in 1810 and died in 1835, leaving only one son.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-14 |title=El castillo Soneira de Montevideo |url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/carballo/camarinas/2018/11/14/castillo-soneira-montevideo/0003_201811C14C2992.htm |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=La Voz de Galicia |language=es}}</ref> In the aftermath of the [Uruguayan Civil War](/source/Uruguayan_Civil_War), during the 1860s, the [Prado](/source/Prado%2C_Montevideo) area began to emerge as a popular countryside retreat for the country’s elite.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-01 |title=Prado: el tiempo inexistente de un balneario que nunca fue |url=https://ladiaria.com.uy/lento/articulo/2022/10/prado-el-tiempo-inexistente-de-un-balneario-que-nunca-fue/ |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=la diaria |language=es-UY}}</ref> Within this context, Dorotea hired French architect [Victor Rabu](/source/Victor_Rabu) to design a two-story residence that would serve as the new home for the Soneira family.
thumb|Castle's main corridor
The basement level housed the service quarters and kitchen, while the attic was home to the art studio of painter Federico Soneira Villademoros, son of the original owners.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Federico Soneira Villademoros (1830 - 1900) |url=https://museos.gub.uy/index.php/component/k2/item/2207-federico-soneira-villademoros-1830-1900?highlight=WyJhcnRlIl0= |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=museos.gub.uy |language=es-es}}</ref> The castle underwent major renovations between 1912 and 1914, led by architect [Camille Gardelle](/source/Camille_Gardelle).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Casa Quinta de Soneira {{!}} Municipio C |url=https://municipioc.montevideo.gub.uy/node/42 |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=municipioc.montevideo.gub.uy}}</ref> Inside, the moldings, stained glass, and marquetry flooring were refurbished, while the exterior saw the redesign of the main façade and the addition of a tennis court, swimming pool, and stables.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prado: Restauran destacada casa quinta del patrimonio arquitectónico de Montevideo - Radiomundo En Perspectiva |url=https://enperspectiva.uy/en-perspectiva-programa/los-ojos-de-rosario/restauran-una-de-las-obras-mas-importantes-de-montevideo/ |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=enperspectiva.uy}}</ref>

In 2009, [Lutheran](/source/Lutheranism) Colegio San Pablo acquired the property for one million US dollars, intending to use it for high school and pre-university courses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-10-30 |title=Viejos escenarios de la vida |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/domingo/viejos-escenarios-de-la-vida |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=EL PAIS |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />
Category:Buildings and structures in Montevideo
Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 1870s
Category:Prado, Montevideo
Category:Gothic Revival architecture in Uruguay

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Soneira Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soneira_Castle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soneira_Castle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.