Friars' Garden and its viewpoint

Below the south façade of the Royal Monastery, on artificial terraces, step the box parterres of the Friars' Garden, the old kitchen gardens and a pond presided over by a large weeping willow. It is a historic garden with free access, one of the quietest corners of the Royal Site, and it closes on Mondays.

What you can see

The terraces that run along the south and east façades of the monastery form the historic gardens: the Friars' Garden and the King's and Queen's Gardens. According to the tourist office, the gardeners brought by Philip II laid out squares of box hedges with brightly coloured flowers, which at the time were compared to "fine carpets brought from Damascus". Today the flowers have been replaced by patterns made from the hedges themselves.

Below lay the monks' kitchen garden. Fray José de Sigüenza wrote that it stood on the best land "to be found for many leagues". It was surrounded by a stone wall of about 8,000 feet, attributed to Francisco de Mora and built between 1587 and 1588, with four gates: Calleja Larga, Bosquecillo, La Herrería and La Compaña. Inside, fruit trees and vegetables were planted in lanes and plots. The pond originates from one of the two oldest springs on the site, the Blasco Sancho or del Estribo.

The viewpoint

Opposite the entrance there is a viewpoint from which you can see the whole garden: the monastery, the terraces, the kitchen gardens, the pond, the Bosquecillo and La Herrería, with the Machotas behind. On clear days you can also make out the Madrid skyline.

How to get in

The entrance is under the arches that join the Casa de la Compaña, now the Real Centro Universitario Escorial – María Cristina, with the Botica, at the exit from the Lonja. Access is free and it is closed on Mondays; opening hours are not published on the tourism website, so if you are going late, ask at the tourist office, on calle Grimaldi, a couple of steps away.

It is a good place to rest with children after visiting the monastery, and to photograph the building from below.

What to combine

The garden is the starting point of the two walking routes the council suggests towards La Herrería: the short one to Philip II's Seat and the long one through La Herrería and El Castañar. Both leave the Lonja through the arches of La Compaña and pass the viewpoint. If you prefer to stay in the town, very close by you have the café at the Miranda & Suizo, on calle Floridablanca.