Casa de Campo
The largest urban park in Spain, Casa de Campo is a short drive walk from central Madrid
At over 1,722 hectares, Casa de Campo is the largest urban park in Spain. Situated to the southwest of Madrid, it’s flanked by the banks of the River Manzanares, the municipality of Pozuelo and other wooded areas such as Monte del Pardo. The most common trees are holm oaks and pines, in the style of most meadows in the Castilian plateau.
The importance of Casa de Campo rose when King Philip II of Spain moved the court to Madrid in 1561 and the royal residence was established in the old fortress, which stood on the site of the present-day Royal Palace. A keen hunter, the King wanted to have his court located close to a hunting ground. To honour his wish, he acquired the manor from the Vargas family and the adjoining lands as well. Two centuries later, King Ferdinand VI of Spain named Casa de Campo a Royal Forest. In 1931, under the Second Republic, the property passed from the Crown to Madrid City Council.
Evidence of the noble and royal past are the Palace of Vargas, the Puente de la Culebra bridge, the Tapia (wall) and the gardens of El Reservado.
Encompassing leisure facilities, Casa de Campo is a great park for kids.
The Parque de Atracciones (amusement park) features more than 30 rides and attractions for both adrenaline junkies and the fainthearted. La Lanzadera is a freefall ride where riders drop 63 metres at 80km/h. Before returning to the ground, if you’re not too scared up there, you can enjoy beautiful views of the city. El Abismo is a cutting-edge roller coaster with many spirals and hills, with a 49m drop and a top speed of 100km/h. The park has water attractions and a haunted house as well, plus shows, play zones and places to sit down and relax.
About 2,000 animals from 500 different species live at the Madrid Zoo Aquarium. The most peculiar residents are a white tiger and individuals from endangered species like the koala or the Barbary lion. However, the best-known animal in the zoo is Xing Bao, the baby giant panda born in Madrid that made its first appearance in early 2014. You can also enjoy live shows with animals like dolphins, birds of prey, exotic birds and sea lions, and visit the various types of sharks that live in the aquarium.
Casa de Campo attracts all kinds of sports lovers. Its 16km-long circuit made of asphalt roads and dirt trails is used extensively for jogging and running. (Nota para los maquetadores: hay que poner un enlace al contenido “Dónde Ir//Deporte//Corre en Madrid”.)
Cycling enthusiasts can be seen riding road or mountain bikes in Casa de Campo. For road cyclists there are paved roads to roll safely within the park, away from heavy traffic, while mountain bikers have numerous trails and narrow drives.
As for water sports, the Lake, after extensive restoration work in 2018, is a perfect place to enjoy nature whilst having something to eat or drink in the bars and restaurants around it, as well as practicing water sports. Sailing in small vessels is permitted so it is possible to go canoeing and rowing. Furthermore, it is possible to go swimming at the Lago Municipal Sports Centre, which has an indoor pool and three outdoor pools, which are open during the summer.
Casa de Campo has been the venue for various international sports competitions. It has held heats of the Triathlon World Cup and the Mountain Bike World Cup, and even an edition of the Cycling World Championships, with a circuit that went around the entire facilities.
During your sightseeing day in Madrid, you can go to Casa de Campo for a break, since the park is a short distance from the Royal Palace, La Almudena Cathedral or the Chapel of San Antonio de la Florida. A leisurely stroll across this open green space will give you fresh air and tranquillity within city limits.
The Lake at Casa de Campo is a perfect place to enjoy nature, the sun and the views whilst having something to eat or drink in the bars and restaurants around it, as well as doing some water sports. The surrounding area has several restaurants with an interesting gastronomic offer that will make you appreciate this natural beauty spot in Madrid even more. One option is Villa Verbena, a terrace that serves up flame-grilled dishes and a culinary offer based on good quality products and simple recipes.
The Casa de Campo Trade Fair Park hosts conferences, conventions, fairs, sporting events, business meetings, concerts and theatre plays around the year in its four multi-purpose halls, the theatre/auditorium and the outdoor stage.
You can also visit the El Taller project run by the TriCiclo group and The Hat Madrid. It is a space that combines gastronomy and sport, hosting a wide variety of leisure-sports activities, organised by some of the country’s top athletes.
The Glass Pavilion at Casa de Campo also boasts an extensive exhibition area, divided into three levels or floors with capacity for a large number of people, so it is a unique venue to hold major themed shows and exhibitions. Among them, we can highlight Desembalaje, specialised in antiques; ClassicAuto Madrid, the Madrid International Classic Car Show; or Japan Weekend , which revolves around everything related to Japan (manga, anime, video games, etc.).
Furthermore, Casa de Campo Trade Fair Park hosts the Agricultural Chamber’s Market Day. The purpose of this event is none other than raising public awareness of our community’s agricultural products through the producers themselves, rather than through intermediaries.