Fourth Deposit Park

Fourth Deposit Park is an urban park in Madrid, sitting right beside Plaza de Castilla in the northern part of the city. What sets it apart is that the entire green space spreads across the roof of a still-operating water reservoir belonging to Canal de Isabel II, the Spanish capital's public water utility company.

How do you get there?

The park sits in the Plaza de Castilla area, one of the busiest transport hubs in northern Madrid, well connected to the city centre by metro and bus lines. Reaching it is straightforward — the surrounding district is a densely built part of the city, lined with office towers and residential blocks, which makes the park an easily accessible green pocket for both locals and visitors exploring this side of the capital.

What will you see?

The park opened at the end of 2004 and covers roughly 45,000 square metres of landscaped greenery. It was laid out as an open recreational area filled with water features — there are ponds, pergolas and rose gardens throughout, plus a water maze that draws particular attention from families visiting with children.

The park's name refers directly to the underground Canal de Isabel II reservoirs lying beneath it. The whole park was in fact built on top of the Fourth Water Deposit, which has been continuously in service since 1940 and still fulfils its original role of supplying the city with water. Combining working municipal water infrastructure with a recreational space built directly above it is an unusual piece of urban design, one that sets this park apart from Madrid's other green spaces.

One of the complex's most striking features is an exhibition venue run under the name Fundación Canal, specifically the hall known as Sala Castellana 214. It was created by converting one of the 19th-century underground reservoirs, and its interior forms an impressive sequence of 144 brick arches rising to 7.5 metres in height. The space is used to host art exhibitions and cultural events, giving the park an added dimension as a venue that bridges nature, water-engineering history and culture.

When is the best time to visit?

The park is open year-round, with opening hours changing by season — in winter it can be visited from 10:00 to 20:00, while in summer, when days are longer, the gates stay open from 09:00 to 22:00. The warmer spring and summer months are the best time for a stroll, when the greenery, ponds and shaded pergolas are at their best, though the park's compact size makes it suitable for a short visit at any time of year. It's worth pairing a walk here with a visit to whatever exhibition happens to be running at Fundación Canal.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the park called Cuarto Depósito? The name comes from the Fourth Water Deposit of Canal de Isabel II, on top of which the entire park was built — the underground reservoirs are still operating beneath the green space today.

How big is the park? It covers about 45,000 square metres and includes open green areas, ponds, pergolas, rose gardens and a water maze.

What is Sala Castellana 214? It's an exhibition space run by Fundación Canal, created by converting a 19th-century underground reservoir — its interior features 144 brick arches standing 7.5 metres tall, used to host art exhibitions.

What are the park's opening hours? In winter the park is open from 10:00 to 20:00, and in summer from 09:00 to 22:00.