A house converted to the prison of Francis the First

Casa y Torre de Los Lujanes is one of the oldest architectural complexes in Madrid. The complex consists of an early 15th-Century tower and house dating from late in that century. Constructed in the Mudejar style, the site was commissioned by the family of Alvaro de Lujan in 1494.

According to popular legend, Francis I was imprisoned in the tower here following his capture in battle of Pavia in 1525. The French king supposedly refused to kneel in front of Carlos I. The Spanish monarch reportedly had the front door of the tower lowered considerably so that Francis I was forced to bend. Casa y Torre de Los Lujanes are currently the site of the Royal Academy of Moral and Political Science, and is not open to the public. Still, visitors can view the outside and the grounds while visiting Plaza de Villa.