Buen Retiro Palace, Former royal palace in Spain
Buen Retiro Palace was a sprawling complex in Madrid that encompassed multiple buildings, extensive grounds, and significant art collections spread across the area. Today, only a few structures survive from this former royal ensemble, including the Casón del Buen Retiro and the Salón de Reinos.
Construction of the palace began in 1630 as a royal project that eventually became one of the country's most important seats of power. During the Peninsular War, the complex was heavily damaged and largely destroyed, ending its role as a functioning palace.
The palace served as a retreat and entertainment space for the royal family, as its name suggests. The surviving buildings today still reflect its importance as a center of court life.
The surviving remnants are scattered across different parts of Madrid and can be explored on foot. It helps to check in advance which areas are publicly accessible, as not all parts of the former complex are open to visitors.
The palace was known for housing one of the largest collections of Spanish paintings, many of which later found their way to the Prado Museum. These artistic treasures survived the destruction of the building and were preserved.
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