Casa del Labrador

Charles IV's whim: outside, a country house; inside, a neoclassical little palace of lavishly decorated rooms. It is seen only with a guide, in small groups, about 50 minutes, for €10. It is at the far end of the Prince's Garden, and as it opens only three days a week and in small groups, places run out.

What it is

Charles IV, when he was still Prince of Asturias, wanted a "country house" at the end of his garden to rest in the morning, have lunch with friends or listen to concerts. The name comes from its original, modest appearance. From 1798, by then king, he decided to turn the rustic house into the little palace you see today. The project is by Juan de Villanueva; works stopped during the War of Independence and were resumed under Ferdinand VII by Isidro González Velázquez. The U-shaped plan recalls Renaissance villas, and on the façade the royal coat of arms bears an inscription about his reign.

Inside, the tour passes through rooms such as the Billiard Room, the Ballroom or the María Luisa Room, dedicated to Queen María Luisa of Parma, with paintings by renowned artists and sumptuous decoration. It is not a house to walk in and look around freely: the guide explains each room and the group moves together.

Hours and tickets

It opens Friday to Sunday, from 11:00 to 18:00 from October to March and until 19:00 from April to September; the ticket desk and access close an hour earlier. The Patrimonio Nacional ticket office shows sessions at 11:15, 11:45, 12:30, 13:00, 15:15, 15:45, 16:30 and 17:00, almost all in Spanish and one in English. Admission costs €10, plus €0.77 in booking fees if you buy online. At the door there is a vending machine that accepts cards only, but don't count on finding a place the same day: buy beforehand.

It is not accessible for people with reduced mobility.

Getting there

You enter the Prince's Garden by Calle de la Reina; from that gate, depending on the entrance you use, it is up to 20 minutes' walk to the little palace. Arrive with time to spare: if you cut it fine, the walk through the garden feels long. Before going, check the Patrimonio Nacional notice about which areas of the garden are open. From the centre, the Chiquitrén brings you close to the garden entrance.

To round off the day

It fits well with the Royal Barges Museum, by the landing stage, and with a walk through the Prince's Garden. If you want to do the palace and the Labrador on the same day, book the Royal Palace in the morning and leave the Labrador for the afternoon, or the other way round, with lunch in between at Casa José.