A parador is a type of luxury hotel, usually located in a converted historic building such as a monastery or castle, or in a modern building with a panoramic view of a historic and monumental city. The name comes from the Spanish word "parar," which means to stop, halt, or stay. Paradores are found in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, and they were originally established as establishments where travelers could seek lodging, food, and drink, similar to an inn. In Spain since 1928, a Parador is a state-owned luxury hotel, usually located in a converted historic building such as a monastery or castle, or in a modern building in a nature area with a special appeal or with a panoramic view of a historic and monumental city. The company was created with the double objective of promoting tourism in areas that lacked adequate accommodations and of putting unused large historic buildings to use for the maintenance of the national heritage. Paradores are usually managed by a state-run company, Paradores de Turismo de España, which was founded by King Alfonso XIII to promote tourism in Spain. The first Parador, Parador de Gredos in Ávila, was opened in 1928 by the King himself. Today there are 97 Paradores across Spain, which are all 3 to 5 star hotels. Paradores are known for their exceptional historic properties, and the concept behind them is to open these properties to the public and use the hotels profits to maintain these beautiful buildings. Most of them also have excellent restaurants offering traditional cuisine at a high standard using local and seasonal produce. Regardless of the date or style, they are all refurbished to a high standard offering all modern comforts, as long as they comply with protected building regulations.