Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid
Madrid, Comunidad de
The Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid, founded in 1755 by King Ferdinand VI, is a prominent scientific and cultural landmark located next to the Prado Museum. Originally established near the Manzanares River, it was relocated in 1781 to its current site on the Paseo del Prado by order of King Charles III. The garden is organized into three terraced levels designed by architects Francesco Sabatini and Juan de Villanueva, reflecting the Linnaean classification system. It serves not only as a public garden but also as a center for botanical research, conservation, and education. The garden contains around 90,000 plants, including 1,500 trees, and is divided into seven major outdoor sections and five climate-controlled greenhouses. Notable features include the Terraza de los Cuadros with ornamental and medicinal plants, the taxonomic Terraza de las Escuelas Botánicas, and the romantic English-style Terraza del Plano de la Flor with the Villanueva Pavilion greenhouse and a pond honoring Carl Linnaeus. The garden also houses Spain's largest herbarium, with over one million specimens collected from global scientific expeditions. Despite challenges such as abandonment during the Spanish War of Independence and damage from a cyclone in the 19th century, the garden was restored and reopened in 1981 and is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences."
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Tip: Visit the garden in spring or early summer to enjoy the full bloom of its diverse plant collections. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended during peak tourist seasons to avoid long lines. The garden offers discounts for students, seniors, and groups. Guided tours and educational workshops are available and can be booked through the official website or by phone. Allow time to explore both the outdoor terraces and the greenhouses for a comprehensive experience.
Interesting facts
- •The garden's herbarium is the largest in Spain, containing over one million plant specimens from worldwide scientific expeditions.
- •The garden was originally located near the Manzanares River before being moved to its current location on the Paseo del Prado in 1781.
- •Its layout follows the Linnaean system of plant classification, arranged on three terraced levels.
- •The Villanueva Pavilion, built in 1781, was originally a greenhouse and now houses botanical collections.
- •The garden forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences'.
- •It has survived significant historical challenges, including abandonment during the Spanish War of Independence and damage from an 1886 cyclone.
History
The Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid was established in 1755 by King Ferdinand VI at the Orchard of Migas Calientes near the Manzanares River.
In 1774, King Charles III ordered its relocation to the Paseo del Prado, where it opened in 1781, designed by Francesco Sabatini and Juan de Villanueva.
The garden was intended for botanical research, education, and plant classification, particularly focusing on species from Spain's colonial territories.
It suffered neglect during the Spanish War of Independence but was revived in the mid-19th century by Mariano de la Paz Graells y de la Agüera, who added greenhouses and improved the upper terrace.
Later, part of its land was lost to the Ministry of Agriculture, and a cyclone in 1886 caused significant tree loss.
Since 1939, it has been managed by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and was restored and reopened in 1981.
It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro ensemble.
Place Guide
Terraza de los Cuadros
This terrace features collections of ornamental, medicinal, aromatic, endemic plants and orchard species arranged in box-edged plots around a small fountain. It also includes a Japanese garden at its southwestern end.
Terraza de las Escuelas Botánicas
A taxonomic collection arranged phylogenetically with approximately 12 small fountains, used for educational and scientific purposes to demonstrate plant classification.
Terraza del Plano de la Flor1781
Designed in the mid-19th century in a romantic English garden style, this terrace features a diverse collection of trees and shrubs, the Villanueva Pavilion greenhouse (built in 1781), and a pond with a bust of Carl Linnaeus.
Graëlls Greenhouse19th century
A 19th-century greenhouse exhibiting tropical plants and bryophytes, named after Mariano de la Paz Graells y de la Agüera, who revitalized the garden in the 19th century.
Modern Greenhouse Complex
A newer greenhouse structure supporting three climate zones: tropical, temperate, and desert, allowing cultivation of plants not suited to Madrid's continental Mediterranean climate.
Contact
Phone: 914 20 30 17
