Museo de Falúas Reales

About the museum

The Museo de Falúas Reales preserves the pleasure craft used by the Spanish monarchs on the ponds and river of the gardens of the Reales Sitios (Royal Sites). In the 18th century river festivities for the kings were held in Aranjuez, and the first boats were shown in the 19th century in the Casa de Marinos. The current building, designed by the architect Ramón Andrada, was built between 1963 and 1964 in the Jardín del Príncipe, near the landing stage, and consolidated the collection.

The oldest piece is the gondola of Charles II, commissioned in Naples in 1683 for the Estanque Grande del Retiro, which later passed to La Granja and has been in Aranjuez since 1966. The rest of the collection includes the falúas of Charles IV, from the early 19th century and built in Cartagena, and of Isabella II, among others, and an eleven-metre, fourteen-oar falúa built in El Ferrol for Alfonso XII. In total six craft are displayed, within a collection of some forty objects, with masts, models, maps and cannons with which honours were rendered to the kings.

After nine months of work and an investment of €110,000, Patrimonio Nacional restored the six craft, paying attention to polychromy, gilding, carvings, canopies and upholstery, and reopened the museum on 3 February 2026. A new building for the museum is planned.

Highlights

• Gondola of Charles II, commissioned in Naples in 1683
• Six freshly restored historic falúas and gondolas
• Falúa of Charles IV, from the early 19th century
• Eleven-metre, fourteen-oar falúa built for Alfonso XII
• Masts, models, maps and honour cannons

Permanent exhibition

• Falúas y embarcaciones reales – Six historic royal pleasure craft, from the gondola of Charles II of 1683 to the falúa of Alfonso XII, together with masts, models and maps.

Founded

1962

Operated by

Patrimonio Nacional

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Wednesdays and Sundays from 15:00 (tickets must be collected at the ticket office), 18 May and 12 October. Free entry is also available for unemployed people, people with disabilities, large families, official guides and ICOM members.

According to visitor guides, tickets are bought at the ticket office of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez and also serve for the museum. Basic fare €9 and reduced €4.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

No information on accessibility has been published.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

It is within the Jardín del Príncipe in Aranjuez, near the landing stage.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit