Car rides through the four Villas of Sierra Norte
You still haven’t been to the Region of Madrid’s four Villas of Sierra Norte? Patones, Torrelaguna, Buitrago del Lozoya and Rascafría stand out because of their great historical and cultural heritage, so much so they have earned the classification “Villas de Madrid”.
We suggest a driving route divided into two days through these four towns so you can learn a little more about the extensive heritage in our Sierras, so stay tuned. Continue reading...
Let’s get started: Let’s discover Valle del Jarama and Patones
This day shall be focused on Valle del Jarama, to the southeast of Madrid’s Sierra Norte. We’ll begin the trip in Patones to discover one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the Autonomous Region of Madrid. Because of its ethnographic and environmental value, Patones de Arriba was granted Site of Cultural Interest status and classified as a heritage site in 1999.
El Cerro de la Oliva
On a hiking route that stands out because of its landscape, we’ll walk across Cerro de la Oliva contrasting its limestone rock with the granite normally seen in the rest of the territory. We’ll visit the ancient Roman acropolis and Pontón de la Oliva.
Próxima estación: Valle del Jarama y Torrelaguna
Continuamos nuestra ruta hacia Torrelaguna, situada a 10 km del destino anterior. Cuna del Cardenal Cisneros, fue declarada Conjunto Histórico-Artístico en 1973, por su incalculable valor patrimonial, en el que destaca la Iglesia de Santa María Magdalena, magnífico exponente del gótico madrileño.
Distinguished Men and Women from Torrelaguna
Torrelaguna has welcomed many distinguished people throughout history. Cardinal Cisneros, Santa María de la Cabeza and the poet Juan de Mena were all born here. The latter is even buried here as well. Plus, San Isidro Labrador lived in Torrelaguna. The historic centre lives up to such distinguished figures, which is more than noticeable as soon as you first step into the streets.
Defensive structures and the surrounding area in Torrelaguna
In the afternoon, we’ll visit the defensive structures outside the town such as Arco de Burgos. We’ll also find the remains of the wall as well as the Arrebatacapas Watchtower, one of the six watchtowers that were built in the fertile plains of Jarama between the 9th and 10th centuries to protect Toledo. We’ll spend the night in Torrelaguna where the locals will welcome us with their typical Sierra openness and warmth in one of their most rural-style homes.
Next station: Valle del Lozoya and Buitrago del Lozoya
We’ll spend the second day in Lozoya Valley. Leaving Villa de Torrelaguna behind, we’ll head over to Buitrago del Lozoya, which is in the middle of the valley of the same name almost entirely surrounded by the river. Buitrago is home to a total of six Cultural Interest Sites including the best-preserved fortified compound in the Region of Madrid.
Nature, Gastronomy and Festivals
In addition to the spectacular cultural heritage, Buitrago del Lozoya also has an excellent gastronomic offer (we will stop here to eat) as well as a great landscape and natural wealth.
To finish up: Valle del Lozoya and Rascafría
Our final stop will be in the town of Rascafría, located in the upper Lozoya Valley, in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. Perhaps this town is best known for the Royal Monastery of Santa María de El Paular, the first Charterhouse of the Kingdom of Castile, which was founded at the end of the 14th century. The nuns produced paper there for centuries in a fulling mill.
Puente del Perdón (Bridge) and Bosque Finlandés (Forest)
Very close to the Carthusian monastery is what is known as the Bosque Finlandés (Finnish Forest), an ideal place to walk quietly, listening to the sounds of nature, free from all the urban noise, and breathing the peace of pure air far away from civilization. To get to this unusual place, you must first cross the Puente del Perdón bridge, a place where prisoners where given the opportunity to appeal their sentences one last time hoping for a change.
Rascafría Villa and surrounding area
Rascafría also has other sites of interest such as the Parish Church of San Andrés Apóstol, the Casona, the Belgian sawmills, the Puente de la Reina bridge and the Valcotos and Valdesquí mountain stations. Our journey now comes to an end, but we recommend you stay and sleep in this lovely villa and continue visiting Madrid’s Northern Sierra where each village, reservoir, port or forest hides wonderful resources that will leave you in awe.