Cottage

Its 1,535.52 hectares make this natural space the largest public park in Madrid. The history of the Casa de Campo began with Philip II's decision to move the Court to Madrid and reside there. The king established an estate that connected the Palace with the hunting grounds of El Pardo, and around this core, farmland and fields purchased from neighboring landowners were added. With the arrival of the Second Republic (1931), the space was ceded to the people of Madrid, who have since made it their favorite park.

Under Ferdinand VI, this site was declared a Royal Forest. Given the hunting and rural purpose of the estate and its proximity to the Palace, the original Vargas family country house was expanded to accommodate the royal apartments for these purposes.

Charles III gave it a new direction by introducing livestock farming and agriculture among its objectives, which would be continued by Queen Maria Cristina. After the proclamation of the Second Republic, it was ceded by the State to the people of Madrid (May 1, 1931), and has been open to the public ever since. During the Civil War, it was a front of battles and bombings that affected its old buildings and led to the construction of new military structures, which can still be seen. In 2010, it was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in the category of Historic Site.