Layos Palace Introduction

Layos is a 1,800 hectares (approx. 4,450 acres) estate with more than 20 classic driven partridge drives, just 12 km from Toledo and 91 km from Madrid (approx. 1hr).

Since 1968, Layos has been hosting classic wild red-legged partridge shoots, across a unique shooting estate made up of three historic properties: Layos, La Celada and La Torrecilla.

Layos Palace traces its origins to a Roman settlement. During excavations of its foundations, a IV century marble Early Christian sarcophagus decorated with biblical scenes was discovered; it is now preserved in the Frederic Marès Museum in Barcelona.

The earliest construction of the palace dates back to the XIV century, while the main architectural development belongs to the XV and XVI centuries.

As a palace, it was originally owned by Don Francisco de Rojas, Ambassador to Rome of the Catholic Monarchs, and was later inherited by the Counts of Mora, among them Eugénie de Montijo, Countess of Mora and Empress Consort of France, wife of Napoleon III. The palace remained in the possession of the Counts of Mora until 1967, when it was acquired by a distant relative of that family, the renowned architect Miguel de Oriol Ybarra and his wife Carmen Icaza Zabálburu. It is currently owned by their heirs the Oriol Icaza family.

Layos Palace is built in Mudejar style, featuring three square towers at its corners and a cylindrical tower dominating the main façade.

The estate is enclosed by an extensive walled enclosure containing formal gardens and an olive grove. Within the grounds stand several ancillary buildings that once served as dependencies of the palace.

The interior is arranged around a large central square courtyard. It comprises two grand reception halls, a dining room, a glazed square gallery, and fourteen bedrooms, tend of them principal suites with private bathrooms, together with additional service quarters.

The place is located 12 Km from Toledo Toeldo, the Imperial City, and 0km from the Puy du Fou historical theme park.

In the village of Layos lies and 18-hole gold course, built by Miguel de Oriol Ybarra, just five minutes from the palace.

It´s slopes, ridges and valleys create exceptional drives, forming an unrivalled natural setting to bring out the finest flying qualities of the Spanish red-legged partridge — fast, high and challenging even for the most experienced guns. Dominated by Monte de Layos and the beauty of it’s historic Palace where the shoots are hosted, Layos forms a combination that is virtually impossible to match and truly outstanding.

Season starts on October 1st  and ends on March 15th.