La Cabrera between granite mountains and culture

La Cabrera offers a landscape of granite mountains and valleys crossed by streams. Holm oaks, oaks and ash trees grow there, along with distinctive species such as cork oaks and strawberry trees. The Sierra de La Cabrera ridge is home to the second-largest colony of griffon vultures in the Autonomous Community of Madrid.

Nature

The circular “Living Ecosystems” route passes through various ecosystems and geological formations of the Sierra de La Cabrera; its special features include small temporary ponds in granite outcrops in the Dehesa. The Sierra de La Cabrera route begins on Avenida de La Cabrera, next to the Centro de Iniciativas Turísticas Villa San Roque in La Cabrera. For planning purposes, you can consider the circular route and the starting point separately.

Culture

The Centro Comarcal de Humanidades Sierra Norte in La Cabrera hosts theater, music and dance performances, screens films and includes activities held as part of regional festivals. The center also houses the small Gabinete Artístico La Cabrera museum, with collections by Carlos Manzanares and Mario Solana.

The Convento-Monasterio de San Julián y San Antonio can be visited as part of guided tours and offers liturgical celebrations throughout the year. The Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción is a granite church in the center of La Cabrera, with a nave, a sacristy and a bell tower with a clock. The main nave dates back to the 16th century up to the stone arch, while the presbytery dates from the 18th century.

History

The Castro of Cerro de La Cabeza is associated with one of the earliest settlements in La Cabrera and still contains remains of fortifications as well as Visigothic ceramic materials. La Cabrera was designated a Site of Cultural Interest in 1989 in the category of Archaeological Zone because the municipality brings together four settlement models from different historical periods.

Geographical setting

Atalaya de Venturada is a ruin in the vicinity of La Cabrera. The peaks of Mondalindo, Gratera, Cabeza de Arcón and Cabeza de la Braña are also located near La Cabrera. In the wider regional surroundings of La Cabrera lies the Acueducto de la Retuerta, an ancient site. San Pedro Apóstol and Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Asunción are churches in the vicinity of La Cabrera.

When choosing a holiday apartment in La Cabrera, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the respective offer pages. The nature, cultural and archaeological topics mentioned can be set alongside one another as different focuses for your personal planning.

Other places to include in your plans are Algete, Collado-Villalba, Madarcos, Robledillo De La Jara, Casarrubuelos, Soto Real, Brea De Tajo and Humanes De Madrid.

The burial complex comprises a small necropolis with ten graves: nine graves are dated to the 7th century and are cist graves; the tenth grave is known as the “Tumba del Moro” and is dated to the period between the 9th and 10th centuries.

For the broader travel overview: Madrid.