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FR-The fountain at La Granja Waterfall is working again. Opening hours and how to visit
The Cascade Fountain, in the Gardens of the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso (Segovia), is running again after more than ten years out of service. It’s one of the most spectacular spots on the tour, so if you’re planning a visit to La Granja, here’s everything you need to know: a bit of history, what to expect, opening hours, prices and when to catch the fountain in action.
A Fountain with nearly 300 years of history
The Cascade was built between 1720 and 1724 for Felipe V, who wanted to admire it from the balcony of his own chambers — which is why it sits right on the main axis of the palace façade. Its stepped design links the upper level of the gardens with the lower area, crowned by the figure of Amphitrite, goddess of the sea, honouring the monarchs behind the Gardens of La Granja, Felipe V and Isabel de Farnesio.
It belongs to the first phase of the gardens’ construction, the one Felipe V and Isabel de Farnesio designed after Versailles. Like the rest of the fountains on the estate, it’s part of a mythological trail: each one depicts a scene or deity linked to water.
Finally, after more than a decade out of action, the restoration work is complete, and today you can see it running at full flow again.
What you’ll find on arrival?
La Granja de San Ildefonso combines two visits in one: the Royal Palace, known as the “little Versailles” commissioned by Felipe V, and its baroque gardens with 26 monumental fountains, 8 of which currently have their water features in operation.
Inside the palace, you can explore the Tapestry Museum, the royal chambers, the sculpture gallery and the Collegiate Church with the Royal Pantheon. In the gardens, the star attraction is the fountain trail, with the Cascade Fountain as one of its centrepieces: set on the main axis facing the palace façade, with a stepped design linking the upper and lower gardens, crowned by the figure of Amphitrite amid the water jets.
The fountain has just come back into operation after a full restoration lasting nearly two years, so you’ll see it in its best condition in over a decade. A curious detail for when you see it in person: the fountain’s original colour, when Felipe V had it built in the 18th century, was a yellow marble from Soria. The white and grey tone you’ll see today comes from a much later restoration, during the reign of Isabel II.
Opening hours and prices
Palace visit:
- Summer (April-September): Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
- Winter (October-March): Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Closed Mondays; ticket office and access close one hour before closing
- General admission: €9 / Reduced: €4 (ages 5-16, over 65s, students up to 25)
- Free for EU and Latin American citizens on Wednesdays and Sundays, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm (winter) or 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm (summer)
Gardens and fountains visit:
- Garden admission: free, except on fountain show days
- Tickets for the fountain shows are purchased separately, at the ticket office on show days
When can you see the cascade fountain running?
The Cascade doesn’t run daily — only on set dates within the Fountain Season (April-July), for water sustainability reasons. The safest dates to catch it this year are the joint switch-on days for all the monumental fountains:
- 25 July (Santiago Apóstol) — €5 admission
- 25 August (San Luis) — free admission
Before planning your visit, always check the updated calendar on the Patrimonio Nacional website, as switch-on dates vary each season.
How to get there and visit La Granja de San Ildefonso?
La Granja de San Ildefonso is about 80 km from Madrid and 15 km from Segovia city. By car, it’s just over an hour via the A-6; by train, take the AVE to Segovia Guiomar (25-30 min), then a Linecar bus to the Real Sitio.
If you’d rather leave the logistics to someone else, Tour Time organises day trips to Segovia from Madrid and the surrounding area, with private tours and an official guide, tailored to your group and including transport. Check availability and plan your visit around the fountains’ switch-on dates.
