Carlton Hotel

A classic, traditional-style hotel, the Carlton has 143 rooms with diverse details and eight meeting rooms for up to 300 people. It occupies the Iberian Peninsula and is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Cantabrian Sea. The classic elegance of the Carlton begins with a colossal chandelier in the hall entrance and continues in every detail throughout the hotel. It also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla Its total surface area is 504,788 sq kms Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Guests will find the atmosphere both relaxing and comfortable. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power.
One of the most emblematic building in Bilbao, the Hotel Carlton was designed in 1919 and completely renovated in 1994 to adapt it to the most demanding tastes. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating Civil War (1936-39). The Carlton offers tastefully decorated rooms in a contemporary style and enjoy all facilities. In the second half of the 20th century, it has played a catch-up role in the western international community. In its lifetime, the building has been the seat of the first Regional Government and witness to important social and cultural events. Continuing concerns are large-scale unemployment and the Basque separatist movement The diversity and contrast that go to mould the character of Spain are likewise in evidence in its cities. Some of the world?s most famous figures, such as Federico Garcia Lorca, Albert Einstein and Alfonso XIII have slept in its bedrooms. Celts, Iberians, Phoenicians and, at a later date, the Greco-Roman civilisation laid the first cornerstones of urban settlements which, to this day, bear the marks of their passage through time During the Middle Ages, Arabic, Jewish and Christian cultures, singly and through a process of mutual cross-influence, gave rise to the birth of cities which have come to house an historical-artistic heritage of incalculable proportions Tradition alone does not suffice Modernity too is essential, and this was something certain Spanish monarchs –Charles III for one– managed to successfully apply during their reigns in order to beautify townscapes, like that of Madrid, with parks and landmark monuments, thereby instilling the city with a spirit of renewal. Today, it is an Historic Architectural and Cultural Monument, whose artistic finesse is apparent in every detail. It was this element of urban renewal that became even more evident at a later date, in the form of townplans designed to extend and enlarge the leading cities, and the construction of graceful buildings which, in keeping with the shifts and changes in architectural tastes, have helped shape the identity of Spain’s cities over the last two hundred years.
In the heart of Bilbao, the Hotel Carlton lies next to the main shopping streets of Bilbao´s Ensanche quartier, a short walk from the Guggenheim Museum, Fine Arts Museum and The Maritime Museum. This contrast is also to be seen in the individual heartbeat of Spain’s cities, where surroundings, climate and daily lifestyles harmonise to lend each its own typical character and atmosphere.