Museo de Escultura de Leganés

Museo de Escultura al Aire Libre is an open-air sculpture museum in Leganés, a city within the greater Madrid metropolitan area. It is one of Spain's rare examples of a public park designed from the outset as a contemporary art gallery, turning a walk among the trees into a survey of twentieth-century Spanish sculpture.

What will you see in the park?

The grounds cover roughly 27,000 square meters and today hold close to 90 sculptures. The collection has been growing since 1984, when the Leganés city council decided to create a place combining urban green space with art that anyone could access, free of charge and without the fixed hours of a conventional museum. Among the featured artists are some of the biggest names in postwar Spanish sculpture: Martín Chirino, known for his monumental spiral forms, the Basque sculptor Jorge Oteiza, painter and sculptor Agustín Ibarrola, along with Juan Bordes, Pablo Serrano, José Hernández and Francisco Leiro. The works span several styles, from geometric abstraction to organic forms, so a walk through the park offers a cross-section of the main currents in Spanish sculpture during the second half of the twentieth century.

The sculptures are set among paths, lawns and trees, so a visit feels more like a relaxed stroll than a fixed museum route. It works well both for a short stop during a Madrid trip and for a longer visit with children, since the grounds double as an ordinary city park.

How do you get there?

The park sits at Avenida del Museo 4 in Leganés. The most convenient way in is by metro — Casa del Reloj station on line 12 (the Metrosur ring) is right by the entrance. City and suburban buses on routes 450, 468 and 481 also serve the area directly from central Madrid and nearby towns. Drivers will find street parking around the edges of the park.

When should you visit?

The museum functions as an open urban space every day from 8:30 to 23:30, making it one of the few museums in the region accessible for nearly the entire day. Spring and autumn offer the best conditions, when Madrid's temperatures are milder and the park's greenery looks its best. In summer, it is worth planning a visit for the morning or evening hours to avoid the peak heat typical of central Spain. The museum also periodically runs guided tours, talks, temporary exhibitions and educational activities for children, so it is worth checking the local events calendar before a visit if you want more than a self-guided walk.

Who is this place for?

The park suits contemporary art enthusiasts looking for a less obvious stop on the Madrid map, as well as families with children who need space to walk or relax on the grass. It is also a good option for anyone who wants to see works by leading Spanish sculptors without visiting another ticketed museum full of exhibition halls.

Frequently asked questions

Is admission to the museum free? Yes, the park is an open public space — viewing the outdoor sculptures does not require a ticket.

How many sculptures can you see in the park? The collection includes close to 90 works, created since 1984 by leading Spanish sculptors of the twentieth century.

What is the fastest way to get there from central Madrid? The easiest route is metro line 12 to Casa del Reloj station, the closest stop to the park entrance.

Can the museum be visited with children? Yes, the grounds also function as a city park, so the sculptures can be enjoyed during a relaxed stroll, and the museum additionally runs educational activities for younger visitors.