Torre de la Parada Palace

Address: Monte de El Pardo area, near Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain

The Torre de la Parada was a royal hunting lodge and pavilion on the Monte de El Pardo north-west of Madrid, used by the Spanish monarchy and lavishly decorated in the 17th century. It became noted for a major decorative program commissioned during the reign of Philip IV.

Remains of the former lodge lie within the forested royal hunting grounds of El Pardo; the original interior decoration no longer survives in situ because many of the large mythological canvases and decorative works were removed and entered the royal collections. Interest in the site is driven by its artistic history rather than extensive visible architecture.

Used as a royal hunting retreat from the early modern period, the lodge was redecorated in the 17th century with a large series of paintings and designs supplied by Peter Paul Rubens and his workshop for Philip IV. Over time the building fell into ruin and much of its movable decoration was relocated to royal museums.

Located in the Monte de El Pardo to the northwest of Madrid, the site sits within the former royal hunting estate that adjoins the city.

• Rubens connection: Many of the paintings and decorations commissioned for the lodge in the 17th century were produced by Rubens’s workshop and later transferred to royal collections, with several now in the Museo del Prado.

From central Madrid, drive northwest along M-607 toward El Pardo and follow local roads into the Monte de El Pardo area (about 20-25 km, 30-45 minutes depending on traffic). Public transport: take Cercanías trains to La Elipa or buses that reach the outskirts and then a taxi for the last rural stretch.

• Access is by rural roads; a high-clearance car makes the last stretch easier.
• There's no visitor center-bring a printed map or download offline maps for the coordinates.
• Respect private property signs: much of the surrounding land is privately owned.