The Prince's Garden

Aranjuez's biggest garden was created by the future Charles IV by joining earlier layouts between Calle de la Reina and the river: about 150 hectares, according to Patrimonio Nacional, bounded by the bends of the Tagus. To the west is the Huerta de la Primavera, which dates from Philip II; then a garden with French features and fruit trees by Pablo Boutelou, from 1772 to 1775, and to the east an English landscape garden by Juan de Villanueva. Admission is free; inside are the Royal Barges Museum and, at the far end, the Casa del Labrador.

What is open now

Before planning the long walk, check the latest Patrimonio Nacional notice: of the Prince's Garden, the space between the Villanueva Gate and Calle Isabel II is open, and the Chinescos pond has reopened; the rest of the historic gardens remain closed until further notice. The gardens open every day from 8:00; from late October to February they close at 18:30, and in summer at 21:30. There is no capacity limit.

What to see

The monumental entrance gates, neoclassical, are by Juan de Villanueva. Before reaching the river is the old Huerta de la Primavera and, on the bank, the landing stage of Ferdinand VI, preceded by a roundabout with five pavilions; the largest is the Royal Pavilion that Bonavía built in 1754. From here the court's barges set out on river outings with music, and here the prince began to use the pavilion as a place of recreation in the 1770s, when he decided to create the garden around it. Nearby are El Castillo, a vaulted room with a medieval air from the early nineteenth century, and the Royal Barges Museum.

Further on, the Chinescos pond, designed by Villanueva, has a small temple with Ionic marble columns and a Chinese-style pavilion, transformed in 1826 by Isidro González Velázquez. There are also two islands, the Asian and the American, with exotic plants and rustic bridges, and the so-called Swiss Mountain, an artificial hill finished in 1826 with a viewpoint on top. Among the fountains, those of Narcissus, by Joaquín Dumandre, and Apollo, a replica of the one at La Granja, stand out. Many of its trees are in the Catalogue of Singular Trees of the Community of Madrid, and it is easy to come across peacocks.

How to do it

Allow two hours if you want to take it slowly and reach the Labrador at the far end; from the Calle de la Reina gate, Patrimonio Nacional estimates up to 20 minutes' walk to the little palace. Autumn is when the trees have most colour. If you don't want to walk so much, the Chiquitrén goes round the centre and the gardens.

To stay a few steps away, the Hotel El Cocherón de 1919 is in the historic centre, beside the Prince's and Island gardens. And to round off the day, the Island Garden is next to the palace.