Mondéjar: Renaissance, Wine and Vía Verde

Mondéjar is home to the Iglesia de Santa María Magdalena, a building created at the beginning of the 16th century and one of the earliest examples of the Spanish Renaissance. It has been designated a historic-artistic monument since 1931.

Mondéjar can be reached via the CM-2004 road.

Culture

The church contains an exact copy of a 16th-century altarpiece by Alonso de Covarrubias, executed by Juan Correa de Vivar, who came from Granada.

The Museo Parroquial Mendocino presents a permanent exhibition of important 16th-century works of art in the upper choir of Santa María Magdalena. The visit includes a free audio guide available via QR codes.

The ruins of the Convent of San Antonio preserve the Plateresque church portal, a work by the Renaissance architect Lorenzo Vázquez. The Convento de San Antonio is considered one of the oldest surviving buildings in Spain in the Plateresque style; it was declared a national monument in 1921.

The Ermita de San Sebastián was built at the beginning of the 16th century at the expense of the first Marqués de Mondéjar.

The Cueva de los Judíos is a 16th-century cave with twelve Passion scenes and 75 life-size polychrome stucco sculptures that are more than 450 years old. Visits to the Cueva de los Judíos are guided and last 40 minutes.

Mondéjar's century-old bullring was built in 1915 using dressed stones from the Convento de San Antonio. The restored Lavadero del Pilar is a pleasant place to spend time in its surroundings and listen to the sound of the water. The Lavadero del Espinar was formerly an important meeting place for the local women; its washing area is covered.

Landscape

The Vía Verde del Tajuña connects Mondéjar with Ambite. The ten-kilometre route runs through the landscape of La Alcarria in the Autonomous Community of Madrid and can be travelled on foot or by bicycle.

The section of the Vía Verde del Tajuña between Mondéjar and Ambite includes several stone viaducts. The Vía Verde also passes through an oak forest where a diverse range of birdlife can be heard and one of the three orchid species found there can be observed.

Other destinations: Miedes de Atienza, Mazuecos, Alhóndiga, Alcoroches, Valdesaz, Azuqueca De Henares, Mandayona, Luzón.

Cuisine

Mondéjar's local gastronomy traditionally includes prepared lamb, the famous cheese from Mondéjar and local wines that reflect the character of La Alcarria.

The D.O. Mondéjar production area covers a total of 2,100 hectares, of which 1,423 hectares lie within the municipality of Mondéjar.

Traditions

The tradition of the Correpiés was brought from Paterna in 1921. During this custom, pyrotechnics are dragged or set off across the ground and through the sky.

The festivities in honour of the Santísimo Cristo del Calvario are held from 13 to 18 September and are recognised as a festival of regional tourist interest.

The procession on 13 September runs from the Ermita de San Sebastián to the Iglesia de Santa María Magdalena and begins near the chapel with a long sequence of mortar fireworks.

To the main travel overview: Guadalajara.