Casón del Buen Retiro Museum

Website: https://www.museodelprado.es/

The Casón del Buen Retiro is a surviving 17th-century building from the Buen Retiro Palace complex in Madrid, Spain, located inside Parque del Retiro near the Prado Museum. The structure originally formed part of the royal palace ensemble built during the reign of Philip IV.

Today the building forms an annex of the Museo del Prado and is used for temporary exhibitions, scholarly activities and conservation workshops linked to the museum. The interior space and decorative elements reflect its baroque palace origins and later adaptations for museum use.

Constructed as part of the Buen Retiro Palace in the 17th century, the Casón survives while much of the palace was demolished in the 19th century; it has undergone restorations to accommodate public and museum functions. Over time it has shifted from royal leisure use to cultural and museum purposes.

Situated within Parque del Retiro in central Madrid, the Casón sits close to the Paseo del Prado cultural axis and is within walking distance of the Prado, Thyssen and other central museum institutions.

• Current use: Part of the former Buen Retiro Palace complex and located inside Madrid’s Parque del Retiro, it is now managed as part of the Prado Museum’s external venues and used for temporary exhibitions and cultural programmes.
• Historical context: The building is one of the few visible remnants of the 17th-century Buen Retiro Palace ensemble set within the park, providing context for visitors exploring the wider palace grounds.

The Casón del Buen Retiro is in Madrid’s El Retiro/Paseo del Prado area. Take Metro Line 2 to Retiro station (a short 5-10 minute walk to the museum) or use Cercanías at Atocha railway station and walk north along Paseo del Prado (about 10-15 minutes). By car it’s in central Madrid adjacent to El Retiro Park; parking nearby is limited and public transport is usually easiest.

• Combine a short visit here with a walk around the Prado and Retiro precincts and check the Museo del Prado website beforehand, since the Casón is one of the Prado's satellite venues and its opening/exhibitions can change.
• Enter from the Paseo del Prado/Retiro side and allow only a short visit-this building typically hosts rotating exhibitions rather than a large permanent display.
• Visit on a weekday morning when the nearby tourist flow is lighter; many visitors miss checking the Prado site for temporary shows held at the Casón.