On the Western fringes of Madrid and sloping down towards the River Manzanares there are two extensive parks called Rosales and the Parque del Oeste (West Park). Beautifully laid out by landscape gardener Cecilio Rodríguez at the beginning of the 20th century, the Parque del Oeste, one of Madrid's finest parks, lies between the Montana del Príncipe Pío and La Moncloa in the northwest of the city. This park is an ideal playground for children, with its spacious stretches of lawn, its shady trees and sandy paths.

During the Civil War the park lay within the firing zone. However, in 1945 it was restored to its original aspect by Cecilio Rodríguez, with new lawns, trees and monuments. A recent addition to its attractions is the rose-garden opened in 1958, which offers a glorious display of color in spring. This English-style park was laid out at the turn of the century by the Madrid landscape gardener Cecilio Rodríguez, who was also responsible for other parks in the city. Parque del Oeste has meandering paths follow a well-marked "nature route" past birch, cedar, cypress, and pine trees. It derives its particular atmosphere from the proximity of the Ciudad Universitaria, the student quarter of Argüelles and the many students' residences in the Avenida de Séneca.

Back to:
« Explore Madrid