Batres

This town of almost 2,000 inhabitants (2023), located 37 kilometres south of Madrid, invites you to discover a surprising historical and cultural heritage combined with an enviable natural environment.

With more than 20 centuries of history, Batres has a historical legacy unparalleled in the Community of Madrid. It has received various names over time, from "Wratria" in pre-Roman times to the current "Batres", passing through "Gran Watria" or "Vatria".

After the Muslim invasion and the devastation of Colonia Vatria, Alfonso VII donated 700 hectares on which a Cluniac monastery was established, in the ancient basilica of Santa María de Batres, possibly also inhabited by Templars. This monastery lasted until the 13th century, maintaining the cult of Santa María de Batres. With the confiscation of church property, the lands were divided between Casarrubios, Carranque and Batres, finally remaining within the municipal district of Carranque (Toledo) after the provincial division of 1833.

The Castle - Casa Fuerte de Batres, one of the most emblematic buildings in the region, is a palpable example of this rich past. Built on flint foundations, this imposing castle witnessed the childhood of the poet Garcilaso de la Vega, who immortalised it in his verses. The Castle of Batres is not the only treasure that this municipality houses. The Fuente de Garcilaso, the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the underground cellar of the winery, the bridge over the Sotillo stream and the Huerta del Mirador are just some of the places that will transport you through time.

Batres is part of the Regional Park of the middle course of the Guadarrama River and its surroundings, a protected area that houses a great variety of ecosystems and landscapes.

Guadarrama groves and banks, scrubland and pastures, mixed masses of pine and oak and holm oak forests make up the rich vegetation of the municipality.

Bird species of high ecological interest, such as the imperial eagle, the golden eagle, the black vulture and the peregrine falcon, fly over the skies of Batres.

Nature lovers can enjoy hiking and cycling routes in Batres.