Cascada de las Castañuelas

Barbara of Portugal was born in 1711, and became Queen of Spain through her marriage to King Ferdinand VI. She was known for her intelligence and political acumen and exerted influence over her husband by helping him with the administration of Spain.

One of the things the Queen Consort received from her husband was the inclusion of the Castanets waterfall in the project to divert the Tagus River. Rumor has it that this was mainly so she could hear a roar from the royal palace that resembled the sound of the waves in her native Portugal.

The waterfall is semicircular and opens in a fan shape near the north wall of the palace and the Patio de Pescadores, which is part of the same canalization of the Tagus as La Ría after crossing the bridge “La Escalinata” or “Veneciano,” which connects the Parterre and Island gardens.

The Cascada de las Castañuelas in Aranjuez is a jewel of Spanish landscape design. This masterpiece was created by the architect and landscape designer Esteban Boutelou and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The waterfall manages to convey a serene and majestic atmosphere. Its careful design and harmonious integration into the natural environment make the Castanets waterfall an unmissable destination for art and nature lovers.