The Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in Spain was built in the 16th century under King Philip II to commemorate the 1557 Spanish victory over France at the Battle of St. Quentin and serve as a royal palace, monastery, basilica, and pantheon to house the remains of Philip II and his descendants. Construction began in 1563 under the supervision of Juan Bautista de Toledo and was completed in 1584 under Juan de Herrera in less than 21 years, resulting in a massive complex built from local granite in a strict and austere style that has since served as the burial site for most Spanish kings over the