The Parador de Benavente Hotel is at the end of Paseo de la Mota, in the spot known as Jardines de la Mota. It is located in the nerve centre of the town and the sea at Gijon is 22 km away.

The seat of the parliament in 1202, this Renaissance-style castle was built by order of Fernando II de Len and forms part of the former walled enclosure of the town. Practically razed to the ground in 1808 during the Peninsular War, it conserves the monumental Torre del Caracol, where there is a living room with an impressive Mudejar (Moorish) coffered ceiling.

The Parador de Benavente Hotel now comprises a total of 38 guest rooms. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the interior contains classical decorative elements such as rugs, forged lamps, coffered ceilings, wood and Castilian bricks. Its spectacular living rooms are duly equipped to promote their functional value as spaces for social gatherings.

The dreamy bedrooms are comfortable, and the restaurant offers an array of the region's gastronomic specialities. The hotel is air-conditioned and its facilities include an entrance hall with 24-hour reception, a hotel safe, a currency exchange facility, lift access, a caf, a bar, a WLAN access point, room and laundry services and parking for those arriving by car.

Throughout the building's four floors, the hotel's Renaissance ambience bears an unmistakably Castilian influence. The gardens cheerily complement the comfortable rooms, and the windows and balconies offer refreshing views of the valley.

Each room comes with an en suite bathroom with hairdryer, as well as a direct dial telephone, a satellite/ cable television, a minibar, a double or king-size bed, individually adjustable air conditioning, central heating, a safe and a balcony or terrace.

There is an outdoor swimming pool, subject to season, with sun loungers and parasols laid out ready for use.

The hotel offers hearty Castilian cooking: The restaurant features Castilian Cuisine, with roast suckling lamb and stewed cod, as well as 'arroz a la zamorana' (Zamora-style rice), 'dos y pingada' (a fried dish) and the sweet 'rebojo zamorano'. Other desserts include caas zamoranas (puff pastry rolls filled with cream) and tocinillo de cielo (caramel custard).

The most common access route to the hotel is the A-6 motorway Madrid-A Corua, or it can be reached from Ourense, Vigo and Pontevedra along the N-630 main road.