Palacio Real de La Granja de San Ildefonso

About the museum

In 1717 Philip V was captivated by the Valsaín area, the traditional hunting reserve of the kings of Castile at the foot of the Guadarrama sierra. In 1720 he bought from the Jeronymites their farm of San Ildefonso in order to create a royal retreat there. He commissioned the palace from Teodoro Ardemans and the gardens from René Carlier, an architect trained in France, and the royal couple was able to move in in 1723. After Philip V’s abdication in 1724 and the early death of Louis I, the king returned to the throne, and La Granja became the Royal Site preferred by the monarchs.

The palace, modest in size at first, was later enlarged. In 1736 Filippo Juvarra designed a new façade facing the central axis of the garden, which his disciple Giambattista Sacchetti completed. The result is a complex with an Italian air and a dense character, the product of several building phases carried out in a short time.

The visit covers the former royal apartments on the two floors facing the eastern façade. Although a fire devastated part of the palace in 1918, almost all the frescoes from the time of Philip V survive. The private rooms of the royal couple are on the main floor, and the most representative rooms, such as the Hall of Hercules and the Marble Hall, are on the ground floor. The Collegiate Church, or royal chapel, is also part of the visit. The gardens are the best example of a formal French-style garden in Spain, and their fountains still work with the original hydraulic system.

Highlights

• Gallery of Portraits and the bedroom of Their Majesties
• Lacquer Hall and Mirror Cabinet
• Marble Hall (Sala de Europa) and Hall of Hercules
• Frescoes from the time of Philip V that survived the 1918 fire
• Collegiate Church or royal chapel, redecorated by Sabatini
• French-style gardens with monumental fountains

Permanent exhibition

• Apartamentos reales y colecciones del Palacio Real – Tour of the former royal apartments, with frescoes from the time of Philip V, furniture, the Collegiate Church and three rooms devoted to the paintings in the collection of Philip V and Elisabeth Farnese.

Founded

1721

Operated by

Patrimonio Nacional

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Wednesdays and Sundays 15:00–18:00 (October to March) or 15:00–19:00 (April to September) for citizens of the European Union and Ibero-America with accreditation, for self-guided visits only; 18 May and 12 October for all visitors.

Also free of charge: under-5s, people who are legally unemployed, active teachers, official tourist guides and members of ICOM and ICOMOS, with accreditation. The visit is eligible for the Bono Cultural Joven. Free admission tickets are sold only at the ticket office.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• 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

There is access for people with reduced mobility, and manual wheelchairs are available. The visitor entrance is single, at Plaza de España.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car, via the A-6 / AP-6 / AP-61 from Madrid to Segovia and the M-601 to San Ildefonso, or the M-601 from Villalba. The ticket offices are at the entrance to the Patio de Coches.

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