Casa de Campo, Madrid

Casa de Campo is Madrid’s largest public park, a vast wooded landscape west of the historic centre. Its name means “Country House,” recalling the royal estate that occupied this land beside the Royal Palace. The park began taking shape in the early 16th century for the royal family and nobility, and it opened to everyone in 1931.

Its scale is remarkable: Casa de Campo covers 1,722.6 hectares, about five times the area of New York’s Central Park. The paths now lead through holm-oak woodland and Mediterranean scrub, with an artificial lake providing space for recreation. Inside the park you can also find Madrid’s amusement park and zoo, while the Teleférico links this landscape with Parque del Oeste.

The place carries a dramatic history as well. From 1936 to 1939, during the Spanish Civil War, the front line of the Siege of Madrid crossed the park. Today, this former royal hunting estate is a much-used weekend destination for Madrid residents. Its long transformation—from private royal ground to an immense public landscape—remains the defining story of Casa de Campo.