Beautiful towns in the Sierra de Madrid

Buitrago del Lozoya

Find beautiful towns in the Sierra de Madrid it will be very easy for you. Because this mountainous complex offers you towns full of charm and located in wonderful landscapes. It is located to the northeast of the Madrid Autonomous Community and, in turn, is made up of several mountain ranges, mainly those of Guadarrama, Malagón, The corner and Cabrera.

This vast territory has national parks like the one of the own Sierra de Guadarrama, pastures like that of Somosierra, mid-mountain areas such as Lozoya river basin and elevations of more than two thousand meters like the Peñalara peak or Cliff of the Carnations. And, along with all this, you have hiking trails and ski resorts such as Navacerrada or Valcotos. But, above all, several towns that preserve all the charm of rural and that they are authentic monuments in themselves. Without further ado, we are going to propose these beautiful towns in the Sierra de Madrid.

Buitrago del Lozoya

The castle of Buitrago del Lozoya

Alcázar of Buitrago del Lozoya

We begin our journey to the north of the Community of Madrid to stop at this beautiful medieval town located between the Cabrera and Rincón mountain ranges. You will be surprised, first of all, by its walled enclosure dating from the XNUMXth century.

Already in the locality, you have to see the Alcazar, built in the XNUMXth century combining Gothic and Mudejar styles, and the church of Santa María del Castillo, with its impressive flamboyant Gothic entrance. Also interesting is the Arrabal bridge, raised in the Middle Ages.

Also, in the foothills of the town is the forest house, a XNUMXth century construction that was built for the Dukes of Infantado as a villa in the style of those of the Italian architect Andrea Palladio. But, perhaps, the most surprising thing about Buitrago del Lozoya is its Picasso Museum. Apparently, the painter's hairdresser was from the town and bequeathed the works that he had given him to create this exhibition. It has about sixty dedicated by the Malaga artist.

Rascafría, another of the beautiful towns in the Sierra de Madrid

Paular Monastery

Monastery of Santa María del Paular

Also in the Lozoya valley is this town that is the door to the Peñalara natural park, with numerous hiking and mountain routes. Through them, you can reach the famous glacial lagoons with their moraines and cirques.

Once in the villa, we advise you to visit the parish church of San Andrés Apóstol, built in the XNUMXth century, the Old hospital, of the XIV, and the bridge of forgiveness. Through this, you will also reach the imposing monastery of Santa María del Paular. This monastery was built at the end of the XNUMXth century, although it has had several restorations. The church stands out in the complex, but its great jewel is the so-called Cartujana Series of the cloister. It involves fifty-four paintings of Vincent Carducho, a contemporary of Velázquez, on the history of the Carthusian order.

Finally, from the monastery, the hiking route that takes you to the Purgatory waterfalls, a set of waterfalls to the Aguilón river that are truly spectacular.

Patones de Arriba

View of Patones de Arriba

Patones de Arriba

We cannot tell you about beautiful towns in the Sierra de Madrid without mentioning Patones de Arriba. Because this town is a monument in itself. With its slate houses, it is a perfect example of the black architecture of the Sierra de Ayllón, which has earned it to be declared a Site of Cultural Interest.

But Patones offers you much more to see. The pretty church of San José It was built in the seventeenth century and the hermitage of the Virgin of the Olive It dates from the XNUMXth century and is in the Mudejar Romanesque style. Very close to the latter is the Olive pontoon, a dam built in the days of Isabell II to supply water to the city of Madrid. And also the archaeological site of Castro Dehesa de la Oliva, from pre-Roman times.

Finally, if you like caving, the Reguerillo cave It is the most important hole in the entire Madrid community. However, it is currently closed. In order to enter it, you need a special permit.

Manzanares el Real

The Mendoza castle

Castillo de los Mendoza in Manzanares, one of the most beautiful villages in the Sierra de Madrid

Another wonder among the beautiful villages of the Sierra de Madrid is Manzanares. It is located on the shores of Santillana reservoir and at the foot of The Pedriza, a perfect area for you to practice hiking and climbing. All this without forgetting the Snowdrift of the Countess, where the Manzanares river is born.

But the town also has magnificent monuments. Its great symbol is the Mendoza castle, built at the end of the XNUMXth century, but which is in perfect condition. Inside, you can see a collection of tapestries and a museum about Spanish castles.

It is not the only one that Manzanares had. You can also see the remains of the old castle, of which only two walls remain. For its part, church of Our Lady of the Snows It is estimated to be built around the end of the XNUMXth century and the beginning of the XNUMXth. It combines Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance features.

Finally, on the way to La Pedriza, you will find the Hermitage of Our Lady of the Peña Sacra, which was built in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

Torrelaguna

The main square of Torrelaguna

Plaza Mayor of Torrelaguna

In the foothills of the Sierra de la Cabrera is this town, famous for being the birthplace of the Cardinal Cisneros. Precisely to him they owe a good part of the monuments that Torrelaguna has. Among these, the spectacular parish church of La Magdalena, of Gothic style and with Baroque and Plateresque altarpieces. Also, the Abbey of the Discalced Franciscan Conceptionist Mothers it has a beautiful chapel attributed to Juan Gil de Hontanon and a Renaissance mausoleum.

You can also visit Torrelaguna la Hermitage of Our Lady of Solitude, from the fourteenth century, although restored in the eighteenth. It houses the image of the patron saint of the town.

Regarding civil architecture, the Town hall, from 1515 and the remains of the medieval wall, of which the Door of the Christ of Burgos. But the great monument of the town is the salinas palace, a Renaissance jewel also attributed to the Gil de Hontañón.

Horcajuelo de la Sierra

Horcajuelo de la Sierra

View of Horcajuelo de la Sierra

This small town in the Sierra de Madrid also stands out for its traditional architecture, in its case of dark stone. In addition, it is an essential place of visit in it the church of San Nicolás de Bari, with its Mudejar façade, its medieval baptismal font and its Baroque altarpiece.

Likewise, you will be surprised in such a small town by the existence of a ethnographic museum. But it even has a perfectly restored forge and a horse shoeing horse. Finally, in the surroundings of the town is the Hermitage of Our Lady of Sorrows.

La Hiruela, one of the best preserved towns in the Sierra de Madrid

The Hiruela

Traditional architecture in La Hiruela

Despite its small population, this town is one of those that has best preserved its traditional architecture, with its stone and adobe houses. It is also worth visiting the restored Flour mill, the building of Town hall and houses of the priest and the teacher.

But more curious is the nearby apiary, a traditional construction destined to the obtaining of honey and that was based on hollow oak logs settled on slabs and covered by cork or wood. In addition, magnificent hiking trails start from La Hiruela that will take you, for example, to the spectacular Hayedo de Montejo.

El Berrueco

El Berrueco

El Berrueco City Council

Located to the east, close to the province of Guadalajara, El Berrueco has enviable surroundings. The Cabrera massif and the imposing El Atazar reservoir, where you can practice water sports such as sailing.

This town of barely eight hundred inhabitants also has a lot to offer you. Among its monuments, the church of Santo Tomás Apostol, with its Romanesque Mudejar façade, and, already on the outskirts, the muslim watchtower, a watchtower built in flint.

But, perhaps, the most curious thing about El Berrueco is its Museum of Water and Hydrographic Heritage dedicated to the numerous hydraulic infrastructures of the Sierra de Madrid. In addition, he is not the only one in the town. It also has another dedicated to the traditional stonework of the area.

Garganta de los Montes

Garganta de los Montes

Pilar Church in Garganta de los Montes

We will finish our tour of the beautiful villages of the Sierra de Madrid stopping at Garganta de los Montes, located in the Lozoya valley. Do not stop observing their traditional mountain houses of a height. They are built of stone mixed with mud and pebbles and end in a bell-shaped chimney.

But you should also see monuments such as the churches of Santiago Apóstol and Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Hermitage of Our Lady of the Meadows and the horses for shoeing. Also, do not stop approaching the Scenic overlook, from which you will get stunning views of the Lozoya valley.

However, the most curious thing about Garganta de los Montes are the statues that are distributed through its streets and that represent scenes of the daily life of the town. Among them, that of the grandfather and granddaughter sharing experiences, that of the altarera or that of the villager surveying the valley.

In conclusion, we have talked to you about beautiful towns in the Sierra de Madrid. All of them are worth your visit. But there are others that are just as precious. For example, Puebla de la Sierra, that still conserves an Arab source; Soto del Real, with its baroque church of the Immaculate Conception and its Romanesque bridge; Guadarrama, with its typical Plaza Mayor, or Cercedilla, with its church of San Sebastián. Go ahead and get to know these towns and enjoy the experience.


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