Colmenar del Arroyo: Culture, Nature and Holiday Apartments

One of the notable structures in Colmenar del Arroyo is Blockhouse-13. It is the only completed fortification of this type in the Community of Madrid and is protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest. The reinforced-concrete fortification lies approximately two kilometres northeast of the town centre; its main body has a diameter of 10 metres and four smaller firing positions.

Culture

The Iglesia Parroquial de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora is a Renaissance church built between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Its features include a coffered ceiling, a Baroque altarpiece, several wood-carved sculptures and a 17th-century baptismal font. Of the former Iglesia de San Vicente, by contrast, only the espadaña belfry remains; the church itself was built between the 12th and 13th centuries.

The Puente del Caño is a stone bridge built of ashlar masonry and stone, with two semicircular arches. The Puente de la Fragua consists of ashlar masonry and rubble masonry and has a single semicircular arch.

Three watermills are located along the Corralizo stream within the municipality. Today they are ruins, but are considered of tourist or educational interest. Only the actual mill shaft remains of the Molino de El Cubo: inside, it is made of large ashlar blocks, while outside it is clad in rubble masonry. The millrace, mill shaft and part of the adjoining outbuilding remain of the Molino de Retes. The Molino de Las Viñas may be the oldest of the three mills; some of its roughly worked ashlar blocks appear to have come from another structure.

The Potro de Herrar forms part of the ethnographic and industrial heritage of Colmenar del Arroyo.

Nature

Colmenar del Arroyo lies within the ZEPA 56 Special Protection Area for Birds and forms part of the Cuenca del río Alberche y Cofio Biosphere Reserve. Griffon vultures, lesser kestrels, rock buntings, golden orioles and tawny owls can be observed in the area.

Trails

Colmenar del Arroyo has urban and hiking trails suitable for walking, horse riding and cycling. In total, the town has 11 routes and paths, two of which belong to the Sendas Verdes network of the Community of Madrid: the Senda de la Dehesa de Navalmoral and the Senda Circuito Paseo de Colmenar del Arroyo.

The Watermill Route along the Arroyo de Colmenar is a 12-kilometre, moderately difficult circular hiking trail with a walking time of approximately three and a half hours and an elevation gain of 120 metres. One hiking route is signposted with marker posts. The different route lengths, difficulty rating and walking time can be compared for day planning.

Cuisine

Every year, usually in January, Colmenar del Arroyo takes part in the Ruta del Garbanzo Madrileño. As part of this weekend menu, restaurants in the area serve a dish featuring chickpeas from Garbancera Madrileña as the main ingredient, accompanied by a wine from the D.O. Vinos de Madrid.

The Jornadas del Pincho y la Cazuelita take place on the first weekend of May in the Plaza de España. They include a market with local pinchos, wines from the Community of Madrid and typical handcrafted products from the region.

Events

The Hoguera de los Quintos takes place on 31 December and includes a romería, a communal meal and a wood fire. During Clásicos de Verano, concerts are held in the church on Fridays in July. The Concierto de las Velas is an event held in mid-August.

Getting there

Intercity bus route 642 connects Madrid’s Moncloa transport interchange with Colmenar del Arroyo. The chapel is integrated into the cemetery of Colmenar de Arroyo and can be reached via the M-510 in the direction of Colmenar de Oreja–Valdemorillo.

Other places: Chinchon, Aldea Del Fresno, Santo Domingo, Valdelaguna, Torrelodones, La Estación, Valdemanco, Soto Real.

To the higher-level travel overview: Madrid.