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Perfectly restored and equipped for tourist visits, the castle of the Mendoza, emblematic of Manzanares el Real, invites us to make a trip to the past with its theater visits and to enjoy its interesting cultural program.

Castillo de Manzanares El Real (Castle)

The remains of the Castle of Manzanares El Real, known as the Plaza de Armas, are the vestibule of the Castle of the Mendoza, symbol of the Community of Madrid, since its Statute of Autonomy was signed in 1983.

Old Castle of Manzanares El Real

The castles of Manzanares

The peak of La Pedriza in Manzanares is a fantastic composition of polished and rounded rocks and hidden nooks and crannies that have colourful and capricious shapes. The summit is visible from hundreds of kilometres away and is worthy of its name: el Yelmo or helmet. But this gigantic peak isn’t the highest point of this unique and majestic group of rock formations. That honour goes to Las Torres, a series of needle-like formations that are visible in the background. Within this rocky terrain, only hardy vegetation such as the cork oak manage to cling on (for example in El Alcornocal, although this name really is an homage to the past when cork oaks were more abundant than today), in addition to brambles, rockrose, oaks and thorn bushes that become increasingly thick as we approach La Pedriza. In the second half of the last century, the Spanish nature conservation agency or ICONA, transformed the original aspect of the Cirque with pine forests. Of the fauna in this area, the vulture is undoubtedly the king, along with mountain goats who have prospered in the most remote corners of this manifestation of Nature’s whimsy.


La Pedriza

At the gates of the National Park Sierra de Guadarrama, La Pedriza offers landscapes of singular beauty molded by polished rocks and rounded intricate nooks and crannies that stand out for their colorful and capricious shapes.

La Pedriza Visitors’ Centre

La Pedriza and its viewpoints

The Santillana dam was built in 1908 and is part of a larger project initiated by the Marqués de Santillana. He sought to provide water and electricity to Madrid and nearby towns. The project consisted of several dams located at different points of the River Manzanares, the largest of which was the dam of Santillana. It was also the first one to be built. The dam is of historical interest as it recreates the architectural style of the castle of the Mendoza. The intake tower is the most characteristic element of the dam, both for its aesthetics and its height. It is also the only element visible in the flooded zone, with a height of 35 metres. It has an octagonal shape and is decorated with stone balls on the sides that are reminiscent of the castle, and may therefore, be considered as homage to the latter.




Embalse de Santillana (Reservoir)

Its origins date back to the founding of the town, although it has a more modern look, thanks to multiple restorations and repairs that it has undergone throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Juan de Herrera and Juan Bautista de Toledo are said to be responsible for its building. It is constructed of stone masonry, has just one arch and is perfectly adapted to the landscape. The importance of this bridge lies in the fact that it was an essential part of the former road called the Cañada Real Segoviana, used by the Mesta association of livestock owners to transport their animals in Spain. This was an important source of income for the town which charged a toll –called El Pontazgo– for the passage of animals and goods.


Puente de la Cañada Real - “Puente Viejo”

It is a fountain with a drinking trough, a distribution chamber and several canals (early 16th century). It was used by the Mesta in their passage along the Cañada Real. The fountain is built with large blocks of granite, topped by a pediment decorated with the coat of arms depicting the betrothal of Don Íñigo López de Mendoza and Doña María de Luna. The distribution chamber is a cubic structure of granite stones and mortar. It collects water from two canals and distributes and channels it into the fountain by means of a third canal located in the south, where a spout provides water for human consumption.


Fuente de las Ermitas (Fountain)

This protected area is located on the South side of the reservoir and is also the entrance into Manzanares El Real for the pilgrims of the Camino de Santiago or St. James’ Way. Although best viewed at dawn, the mountain chain of Cuerda Larga, the castle and the town shine with a special brilliance every evening. It also offers a magnificent panoramic view of La Pedriza’s reflection in the waters of the reservoir and the mouth of the River Manzanares. 


The lookout point of the Reservoir of the Marqués de Santillana

Waters, bridges and fountains

The Church was built in the late 15th century, on the orders of a nobleman, II Duque del Infantado, Don Íñigo López de Mendoza y Luna. The same architects who built the 15th century castle, Juan Guas and Lorenzo Vázquez de Segovia, were given the commission. Its architecture is a blend of Gothic and Roman styles, while maintaining the characteristics of each. It is a church with three naves, separated by arches on stone columns. The central nave is Roman in style and headed by a pentagonal presbytery. The portico is located at the south of the building and was built in the mid-16th century in the Renaissance style with eight elliptical arches and one round arch. The building is accessible by all.


Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Church)

Visitors can have a panoramic view of La Pedriza from this shrine which is located on the cliff of Peña Sacra. First built in the 16th century, it was subsequently added to in the 17th century. The image of the Virgen de la Peña Sacra is a modern copy of the original 19th century image which disappeared, with the exception of the Child, which is an original. Different works have drawn connections between the Peña Sacra and Druidic cults, owing to the presence of Celtic priests who celebrated their rituals in these forests in the 1st century BCE. In 1769 a fire that broke out on the Virgin’s feast day destroyed the church, with the exception of the sacristy.   Although the shrine is not accessible, visitors may come to this location for the unforgettable views of the town and La Pedriza that the site provides.


Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Peña Sacra (Chapel)

From Celtic cults to the mixture of Romanesque and Gothic

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