Palacio de Hielo y del Automóvil, Beaux-Arts building in Centro district, Madrid, Spain
The Palacio de Hielo y del Automóvil is a Beaux-Arts building featuring a Louis XVI-style salon with refined plasterwork and decorative details throughout. The original ice rink measured approximately 55 by 28 meters (180 by 92 feet) and operated with advanced cooling systems for its time.
Belgian hotelier Georges Marquet commissioned the building in 1920, making it one of the first structures in Madrid to employ reinforced concrete construction. The structure later transformed from a recreation venue into a scientific research institution.
This palace served as a gathering place for Madrid's high society during the 1920s, attracting people to ice skating and automotive events. The grand entrance hall with its soaring ceilings still evokes the elegant social life that once filled these spaces.
The building is centrally located in Madrid's business district and accessible from street level. Keep in mind that parts of the structure remain in use today and visitor access may be limited to certain areas.
This structure was one of the first in Madrid to offer ice skating, making it an exotic novelty for the city at that time. This innovation drew people eager to experience modern leisure activities becoming popular across Europe.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
