Aranjuéz

Aranjuéz (probably the Latin Ara Jovis), a town of Spain, on the left bank of the Tagus, 30 miles SSE. of Madrid by rail, in a beautifully wooded valley. The town is regularly built, with broad streets intersecting each other at right angles. The palace was long a favourite spring-resort of the royal family, and was altered and added to by successive sovereigns from Charles V. downwards. The famous gardens were laid out by Philip II.; their most splendid ornament are the great elm-trees brought from England by Philip II., which radiate from a central plot in twelve avenues. At Aranjuez was concluded a treaty between France and Spain in 1772, and it was also the scene of the abdication of Charles IV. in 1808. When the court was here, the pop. used to reach 20,000; now it is only about 8150.