Renowned director Wes Anderson chose the charming town of Chinchón and its 17th century Parador, in the south-eastern region of Madrid, as the main location for hotly anticipated film, ‘Asteroid City”.
The film, released on 19 June, is set in a fictional American desert town in the 1950s, when “the itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events”.
During the filming of Asteroid City, the Parador de Chinchón played host to today’s cinema elite, including: Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Adrian Brody, Margot Robbie, Tilda Swinton, Rupert Friend, Matt Dillon, Steve Carell, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, Willem Dafoe, Bryan Cranston, and more.
Here, the actors enjoyed a variety of Spanish cuisine and embarked on a “gastronomic tour through each autonomous community,” as Nieves Montisi, the Parador’s director described. Bryan Cranston, the star of Netflix Breaking Bad, even created a cocktail using mezcal from his own factory in Mexico, declared a hit at the Parador.
Anderson stayed in Parador’s infamous Condesa Room, where textiles take centre stage with designer William Morris’ iconic Strawberry Thief pattern adorning the armchairs in the living room. Its magnificent balcony offers panoramic views of the Parador’s extensive gardens and orchard, adorned with pomegranate, almond, apple and pear trees, which other famous visitors, such as Tina Turner and Mark Knopfler, have already enjoyed.
The Capilla Room, occupying the space of the former prayer room, went to Margot Robbie. It features an original canopy and lush greenery that brings the walls to life, similar to the captivating religious art displayed downstairs, in the Parador’s cloister.
Beyond the Parador’s walls, Chinchón has a long-standing connection with the world of cinema. The town’s historic Plaza Mayor, just 200m from the Parador, which has a vibrant bullfighting tradition since the 16th century, has played host to various cinematic masterpieces, including the film ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ directed by Michael Anderson in 1956.
It was also featured in ‘The Magnificent Seven‘ (John Sturges, 1960), with Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen; ‘King of Kings’ (Nicholas Ray, 1961), starring Jeffrey Hunter and Carmen Sevilla; or ‘Circus World’ (Henry Hathaway, 1963), with John Wayne, Rita Hayworth, and Claudia Cardinale.
