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Vargas Mansion

Castles

Vargas Mansion

Highlight • Historical Site

Vargas Mansion

Recommended by 27 hikers out of 29

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Location: Madrid, Spain

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Best Hikes to Vargas Mansion

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1. Casa de Campo Lake – Plaza de Oriente loop from Santo Domingo

6.59km

01:48

100m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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2. San Vicente Gate – Casa de Campo Lake loop from Madrid-Príncipe Pío

4.27km

01:08

40m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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3. San Vicente Gate – San Vicente Gate loop from San Bernardo

14.2km

03:52

200m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

🕊️ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓

December 31, 2021

The Palacio de los Vargas is a recreational village built in 1519 by order of Francisco de Vargas y Medina, a member of one of the most powerful families in Madrid at the time. Historically it has been linked to the Spanish royal family, who bought it for their enjoyment. Precisely because it became his country house, the park that surrounds it is today called Casa de Campo. Over the centuries the Palacio de los Vargas has undergone numerous renovations. And it has also changed hands, since today it is municipal property. Including the adjoining garden and the so-called Grottos of Felipe II. The Casa de los Vargas is an ancient lineage of the Madrid nobility. One of its members, Iván de Vargas, participated in the conquest of the city from the Arabs in 1083. Since then the presence of the family in the town has been remarkable.

Translated by Google •

🕊️ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓

December 31, 2021

Palacio de los Vargas in Casa de Campo was built in 1519 by master builder Antonio de Madrid, who also worked on the Alcázar. The house was one of the first of this style in Spain and it was made like some in Italy, where they were already in style.
The Emperor Charles spent some seasons in this Palace as a guest, on his trips through the center of the peninsula. And it is believed that Francis I of France may have been a captive here, after being captured in the battle of Pavia. When he returned to Paris, the French king had a house of the same style built in the Bois de Boulogne, known as the Castle of Madrid.
Felipe II, infected by his father, also became fond of the town of Manzanares. In fact, in 1561 he moved the Court to the city, which since then has been the capital of the kingdom. And he loved this country house so much that he bought it for his own use.
At that time the property had a good garden at the back, under the name of El Reservado. Ahead, there was the so-called Huerta de la Partida, where today we find a viewpoint towards the center of Madrid. This Huerta is currently landscaped and is a separate part of the Palace.
Also in times of this king the Gallery of the Grottoes, also called the Grottoes of Felipe II, was built. The Gallery is next to what was El Reservado. It is a Renaissance pavilion designed as an ornamental and recreational element of what was the garden.
An explanatory panel outside the Palacio de los Vargas tells of its history, its construction and the reforms experienced over the centuries. Some pictures are included to help you get an idea of what the building was like in the past.

José Ramón

February 28, 2025

access area to the country house.

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Elevation 640 m

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Sunday 16 November

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Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Location: Madrid, Spain

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Vargas Mansion

1. Casa de Campo Lake – Plaza de Oriente loop from Santo Domingo

2. San Vicente Gate – Casa de Campo Lake loop from Madrid-Príncipe Pío

3. San Vicente Gate – San Vicente Gate loop from San Bernardo

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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