The Cavalry Academy

The Cavalry  Academy  in Valladolid, Spain,  remains an active military  training establishment,  nowadays for officers destined for armoured units of the Spanish army. The Academy, as an institution, was established  1850, when the Cavalry College of Alcalá de Henares was created . However, it moved to Valladolid in 1852.

The fine building currently occupied by the Academy was constructed between 1921 and 1924  following  the destruction (in 1915) by fire of the previous  building on the same site. This was a modified former prison building called "the Octagon". The architect  was a military engineer ,Adolfo Pierrad, who modeled the building on the Monterrey Palace of Salamanca, a mid 16th century , renaissance, palace. In addition  to the military  training use the  building houses the museum which is open to the public  but only by prior booking at the tourist office (and the museum is closed in July and August).

The exhibits include lots of horse based stuff and amazing historic cavalry uniforms, as one expects, but also lots of 20th century weapons and uniforms. This includes a limited amount of artifacts/references to the Civil War (both sides used armoured vehicles and horse mounted cavalry). Although they took part in both gulf wars Spain did not provide armoured units for either of the gulf conflicts. and . Thus the museum's references to recent history  are limited. Spain does, however, deploy armoured units as part of its NATO commitments (currently  in Slovakia). From time to time the museum  displays examples  of currently  used armoured vehicles in the exterior  spaces.

Outside the front door is a magnificent equestrian statue, the Monumento a los Cazadores de Alcántara,  by Mariano Benlliure and unveiled in 1931.