Jardines del Arquitecto Herrero Palacios

Jardines del Arquitecto Herrero Palacios form a quiet, lesser-known corner of Madrid's Retiro Park, tucked away on its eastern edge. Unlike the crowded paths around the Estanque Grande, this section feels denser with trees, threaded with canals and ponds, and draws mostly local visitors rather than the bulk of park tourism.

Where did this part of the park come from?

The story begins in 1830, when King Ferdinand VII decided to establish his own private menagerie at the eastern boundary of the Retiro grounds, then reserved for royal use. The result was a building known as Casa de Fieras — literally "house of wild beasts" — effectively a municipal zoo that predates Madrid's current one. The menagerie operated and expanded over the decades, including work by architect Cecilio Rodríguez between 1921 and 1933, before finally closing at the end of the 1960s. Its animals were relocated to a new site in Casa de Campo, where the new Madrid Zoo opened in 1972.

How did the old zoo become a garden?

After Casa de Fieras closed, the site sat for a time awaiting a new purpose. The turning point came in 1976, with a thorough redesign carried out under architect Manuel Herrero Palacios, who at the time directed Madrid's municipal parks and gardens department. The new gardens were formally inaugurated on 29 July 1976. The layout is organized around two perpendicular axes, giving the space a more geometric, structured feel compared to the winding, romantic paths found elsewhere in Retiro.

What can visitors actually see here?

Entering from the south, through the gate on Menéndez Pelayo avenue — known as the Herrero Palacios gate — visitors first reach the twin ponds, a surviving trace of the old menagerie dating from roughly 1918 to 1921, originally used for keeping ducks. These sit just north of the neighboring Cecilio Rodríguez Gardens, with which this area forms a connected, though stylistically distinct, green complex.

Why does it carry the architect's name?

Since 1981, the gardens have officially borne the name of Manuel Herrero Palacios (1911–1992), a Madrid municipal architect who directed the city's parks and gardens department through the 1960s and 1970s. The name was given in recognition of his contribution to beautifying and developing Madrid's green spaces — a plaque at the garden's entrance commemorates the decision.

Is this part of a World Heritage site?

Yes. The gardens fall within the wider Retiro and Paseo del Prado area, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 25 July 2021 under the name "Paisaje de la Luz" (Landscape of Light).

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No, the gardens are part of the publicly accessible Retiro Park and entry is free.

Are there any remains of the old zoo? Yes — the main surviving features are the two historic ponds from the Casa de Fieras period and the layout of the entrance gate on Menéndez Pelayo avenue.

How is this area different from the main part of Retiro? It is far less crowded, has a more geometric axial layout, and lacks the tourist infrastructure found around the Estanque Grande or the Crystal Palace.

How do you get to the gardens? The most convenient access is through the gate on Menéndez Pelayo avenue, on the eastern side of Retiro Park, next to the Cecilio Rodríguez Gardens.