Royal Alcázar of Madrid Castle

Address: Site of the former Royal Alcázar (present Royal Palace), Plaza de la Armería, 28013 Madrid, Spain

The Royal Alcázar of Madrid was a fortified royal castle and later palace that occupied the site now held by the modern Royal Palace, beside the Plaza de la Armería in central Madrid. It served as a primary royal residence and stronghold for centuries until its destruction in the 18th century.

The complex combined defensive features and palace apartments and was repeatedly modified from its medieval origins through the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. It functioned as the principal royal residence of the Spanish monarchy until the 18th century when it burned down on December 24, 1734.

Following the fire the decision was taken to replace the Alcázar with a new Baroque palace, and construction of the present Royal Palace began later in the 18th century on the same footprint. The Alcázar’s long history reflected Madrid’s rise as a royal capital and its buildings contained armories, chapels and state rooms before their loss to the fire.

The site sits on the eastern side of Madrid’s historic core, adjacent to what is today the Plaza de la Armería and close to the Almudena Cathedral and the River Manzanares in the center of the city.

• Destroyed by fire (1734): The medieval royal fortress that stood on the site was destroyed by a catastrophic fire on December 24, 1734, after which the current Royal Palace of Madrid was constructed on the same location.

The Royal Alcázar (Palacio Real / Palacio de Oriente) is in central Madrid next to Plaza de Oriente. The nearest metro station is Ópera (Lines 2 and 5, plus the Ramal line); from Ópera it’s about a 5-10 minute walk to the palace. Plaza de España (Line 3) and Sol (Lines 1, 2 and 3) are also within a 10-15 minute walk.

If arriving at Atocha station, take Metro Line 1 to Sol and walk west (about 10-15 minutes) or use Cercanías services and transfer as convenient; the palace is easily reached by taxi or on foot from the central city.

• The Royal Alcázar itself burned down in 1734 and the current Royal Palace (Palacio Real) stands on the same site - if you're trying to see the historic Alcázar, plan to visit the Royal Palace and its museum displays that interpret the earlier fortress.
• Buy a timed-entry ticket for the Royal Palace in advance to skip the long queues at peak hours; early morning slots right after opening typically have fewer visitors than midday.
• Don't skip the grounds around the palace: the Sabatini Gardens and the Plaza de la Armería offer quieter viewpoints and photographic compositions of the palace façade that most rushed visitors miss.