Slide Show of Chapultepec Park and Castle (26  photos)
by David R. Cox

Chapultepec Park and Castle has a history going back to the time of Napoleon. During this time Mexico had a foreign debt with many nations, and France was one of them. Whereas the United States and other nations forgave Mexico their debt, France was on a course conquering the world. Napoleon saw this as an opportunity to get a foothold into the New World once he had finished conquering Europe. So Napoleon "conquered" Mexico and established Maximillan, his nephew, as ruler of Mexico. Maximillian's wife, Carlota, missed the Black Forest of the Georgian plains, and so Maximillian "imported" and built her a little piece of Europe. Chapultepec Castle and the forest around it is the result. The castle is in the typical French colonial style, and most of the trees in the forest (now park) were brought over from Europe.  More History on Chapultepec Castle and Park

Last Updated on 06/17/04

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