On these summer days in Madrid, our plans should always include something refreshing, and near our Vitium Urban Suites (place link https://vitium.es/) is Casa de Campo, with more than 1,700 hectares, which makes it in one of the largest parks in Europe and in the largest public park in the capital with environmental value, and inside is the Lake of Madrid.
A lake in Center of Madrid
This lake in the center of Madrid is in Casa de Campo, it belongs to a very important ecosystem for this capital, if you are one of those who like to know the proportions, here we leave you the details of this lake:
- It has an area of 80,150 square meters
- As for the water it houses, it is 158,637.41 cubic meters
- The depths range between 1.20 meters to 4.50 meters
- Length is 1370 meters
It is cataloged as a Site of Cultural Interest in the category of Historic Site, you can find various trees and shrubs, such as “Madroño” trees, tamarisks, maples, rowans, bananas, and elms. In the restaurant area there is a viewpoint from which you can see the lake, the park and beautiful views of Madrid.
Boat ride on the Lake of Casa de Campo
It has recently upgraded its fleet of boats. Of the total of 48, there are 23 new ones and another 25 have been restored by the Municipal Board of Moncloa-Aravaca.
You can reserve the rental of boats through the town hall website or through the “Madrid Móvil” or sports/web application. Its hours are every day from 10:00 to 20:00. They have a cost of 6 euros on weekdays and 8 euros for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and a 70% reduction for those over 65 years of age. Up to four occupants enter each boat and it is a 45-minute trip.
In addition to recreational boating, the lake is an essential setting for paddlers and canoe sports enthusiasts from all over the city. Currently, there are municipal canoeing and rowing schools, taught in collaboration with the Madrilenian Science Canoeing Club and the Madrilenian Rowing Federation. The Science and Alberche canoeing clubs and the Versalles, Remo Lago and Alberche rowing clubs train on the lake, as well as athletes from the Canoeing, Rowing and Rescue and Lifeguard federations.
A little history of the Madrid Side in Casa de Campo
This large artificial lake has its origins in the 16th century, within the landscape project entrusted by King Felipe II to the architect Juan Bautista de Toledo, for the conditioning of the Royal Site of the Casa de Campo.
The first works carried out within this plan were different hydraulic infrastructures, among which were five contiguous ponds, which were supplied from the nearby Meaques stream through canalizations.
The current lake, is the result of the conjunction of two of the five reservoirs promoted by Felipe II, has been the object of numerous interventions in the 20th and 21st centuries, aimed at its adaptation for sports and recreational use. In the spring of 1992, a 60-meter-high fountain was installed, which can self-regulate depending on the wind speed, through an anemometer located on the shore.
After a profound restoration carried out in 2018, the lake is a perfect place to enjoy nature while having a drink in the bars and restaurants located around it, as well as to practice water sports or rent one of its boats, as we have already said.
How do you get to this lake in Madrid?
From Madrid Río via the Puente del Rey, if you leave our Vitium Urban Suites (https://vitium.es/ ) we recommend that you walk to the Plaza España station and take the Line 10 metro to Príncipe Pío and from there you walk to Madrid Río , or if you prefer to walk, it is also another option, you arrive at Plaza España and go down until you reach Madrid Rio.