European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 08, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Doily Magazine a apr Nish be Rilles throne room Royal Chambers in Palace of la Granja French touch in the Middle of Spain. By Mike Spear staff writer he Spain thai most tourists think of old Castile where the yellow Brown soil and the Sun give an arid Golden look to everything lies just North of Madrid beyond the Snow capped Guadarrama Mountain focal Points of the area Are the picturesque walled cities of Sego via and Avila that Reck with re i minders of the past. Bui then right in the Center of this and infant right in the geographical Center of Spain the Patina of the country is rolled Back in one spot for a slice of France. The spot is seven Miles South of Segovia and it is called la Granja. This Means Grange or farmhouse but it is really a Little Versailles Complete with beautifully Mani cured gardens. Some say a farmhouse actually stood on the spot centuries ago but a Royal Case of homesickness changed the Lay of the land. It All came about when Philip v began the Bourbon dynasty in Spain. Philip was son of Louis Xiv and he was bom at Versailles dec. 19.1683. Apparently he never was Able to gel Over his infatuation with that Monument of French Imperial Power. When he went to Spain he was determined to have his own Versailles. He brought French architects artists and gardeners with him chose the 4.000-foot site in the shadows of the Snow capped mountains and set to work. He was meticulous in his planning and today there is no mistaking the similarities Between the Palace and grounds and those at Versailles. Granja has extensive gardens dotted with sculptured figures and there Are cascading fountains leading into us gardens the gardens cover 358 acres and Are filled with Edi and Chestnut Trees. At the front of the Palace Are 200 year old Sequoias from California. The Palace has the Large Square look of Versailles and even has a Hall of mirrors As does Versailles. One of Granja s major attractions is the galleries of 16th Century flemish tapestries. Edit of them make up an honors and Virtues Seriel there is one of the life of St. Jerome and another of a miraculous catch of fish after a Raphael design. The largest tapestry measures More than 30 text Long and 15 feet High. When Philip died he was buried at la Granja along with his second Queen Isabel de Farnesi. Over the years other members of Spanish Royalty have used the Palace mainly As a summer Home among the were Charles i who lived there during the Idle Century and gathered a collection of More than 200 clocks. Today 65 still remain in the Palace Alfonso 13th was the last to use the Palace and Lor nearly half a Century now it has been a museum. The galleries and saloons Are of iced with Marble with frescoes ceilings and gilded stucco holdings the rooms Are richly stocked with paintings and antique furnish Ings. Many of the rooms Are lit with chandeliers made by local craftsman who it earn renowned for chandeliers and Glasswork in the 18th Century. There Arr daily Tours to Granja As Well As other cities in the area from Madrid is photos by i fee  la Granja with its finely sculptured gardens and cascading fountains now is a museum. Sunday May 8, 1977 the stars and stripes Poge 9