Madrid's 5 most beautiful parks, gardens and natural areas
Walks in the fresh air, the melodious song of the birds, trips to the park or Sunday picnics in the great outdoors… So many little pleasures that encourage you to turn the page on winter, throw off the cosy blankets and head off on a sunny vacation to Spain.
Discover Madrid's parks, gardens and natural areas
When you live in an urban environment, it’s sometimes essential to escape and recharge your batteries in the midst of nature.
Madrid, in particular, is a city brimming with magnificent parks and gardens where visitors can escape and recharge their batteries in the midst of lush nature.
If you’re planning a trip to Madrid, here are a few places (parks and gardens) where you can relax between cultural visits.
1. Visit Retiro Park, the green lung of the Spanish capital
Located in the heart of Madrid, Retiro Park is a veritable green gem. Covering an area of 125 hectares, the park is home to over 15,000 trees. It’s an authentic oasis of greenery in the heart of Madrid. Its gardens represent a precious heritage: from the Jardín de Vivaces to the gardens of Cecilio Rodríguez, evoking Andalusia, to the designs of the famous architect Herrero palacios, the rose garden and the French parterre, with its Ahuehuete, one of Madrid’s oldest trees, said to be almost 400 years old.
What can you see in Retiro Park during your stay in Madrid?
The Retiro is also full of sculptures, fountains and monuments:
- The monument to Alfonso XII.
- The Reservado de Ferdinand VII.
- The Casa del Pescador.
- The central lake.
- The Crystal Palace.
So many jewels that give the place a romantic atmosphere.
There’s also the statue of the Fallen Angel, the only representation of the devil in the world, the Los Galápagos fountain, commemorating the birth of Isabella II, and the Hermitage of San Pelayo and San Isidoro.
2. Take a stroll through Madrid Rio, the capital's largest natural area
Madrid Río is an innovative urban development project that has transformed the banks of the Manzanares River into a dynamic, multifunctional green space. Located in the southwest of Madrid, this residential area is particularly popular with the city’s residents.
Equipped with bicycle paths, sports fields and leisure areas, this park is the ideal place to relax. Madrid’s residents are used to playing sports, soaking up the sun or enjoying a drink on one of the many terraces along the Manzanares River.
3. Discover the Parc del Oeste, located in the Moncloa district.
Located in the Moncloa-Aravaca district, the Parc del Oeste is a haven of peace where nature and history come together in harmony. With a surface area of almost 100 hectares, this green space is located between the La Coruña road, the Cité Universitaire and the Moncloa area.
History of the Parque del Oeste
Its origins date back to 1906, when the mayor of Madrid, Don Alberto Aguilera, launched the idea of creating it. Its attractions include:
- The Madrid cable car, which takes you from the Moncloa district to the casa de campo in just a few minutes.
- The ceramics school.
- Parc del Oeste rose garden.
- The temple of Debod.
- Mirado of the Temple of Debod.
The rose garden is home to thousands of roses of different varieties and colors. Covering an area of 15,000 square meters, it is the venue for Madrid’s annual international rose competition.
4. Visit Madrid's Botanical Gardens
Located just a stone’s throw from the Prado Museum, Madrid’s Botanical Gardens are a veritable paradise for plant and flower lovers. Designated an artistic garden in 1942, it houses an impressive collection of plants, including a herbarium with over a million specimens, as well as an archive and library with almost 10,000 illustrations and 5,500 plant samples. Guided tours are also offered to discover the species that inhabit this jewel box. Guided tours are available in Spanish and English. For further information, please contact the Madrid Botanical Gardens.
5. El Capricho de l'Alameda de Osuna Garden
The Parc del Capricho is a veritable treasure located in the Alameda district of Osuna. Conceived in the 18th century by the Duchess of Osuna (doña María Josefa de la Soledad Alonso Pimentel), this park is a veritable natural Eden frequented by the great figures of her time.
It was designed by renowned gardeners and landscape architects of the time.
It’s one of the capital’s lesser-known parks. A special feature is a bunker dating back to the Civil War.
How to visit the El Capricho bunker?
It will be possible to visit the El Capricho park bunker only once or twice a year. To do so, we recommend you visit this website, where you’ll find all the information you need to visit the El Capricho bunker.
Sources :
https://reservaspatrimonio.es
https://www.esmadrid.com/