Discover La Serna del Monte: Trails, History and Culture

La Serna del Monte can be discovered through its trails, rural townscape and the stories made visible at the church, town hall and historic land-use sites. Nature, culture and regional routes each represent distinct facets of the town.

Nature

The Cañada Real Segoviana runs from northeast to south through La Serna del Monte. The landscape includes extensive pastureland interspersed with native oak woodland, as well as smaller areas of holm oaks and junipers.

Trails

The signposted Senda del Mirador runs through pastureland and includes a tunnel that was probably connected with bunkers from the Spanish Civil War. From inside the tunnel, there are views of Puerto de La Hiruela, the Sierra de Puebla, the Puentes Viejas and Riosequillo reservoirs, the Comarca de La Jara and the Lozoya Valley.

The Senda de la Dehesilla follows a circular route towards the Ermita de Braojos. La Serna del Monte also has the Área Recreativa del Arroyo recreation area, and visitors can take part in existing agrotourism activities. The different trail types and themes allow you to organise nature, history and agricultural connections according to your own interests.

Culture

The traditional architecture of La Serna del Monte includes rural homes as well as buildings for agriculture and livestock farming. The Iglesia de San Andrés was built in the 17th century; only a few parts of the original structure remain, including the old framework and the bell gable. Following renovation in the mid-20th century, the church retains the structure of a single-nave building.

Inside the Iglesia de San Andrés is an 18th-century altarpiece with Solomonic columns, as well as Baroque sculptures of Saint Andrew and the Madonna and Child. Some authors date these sculptures to the 16th to 17th centuries.

In front of the town hall stands the restored Piedra de las Veces, an old sundial used to regulate the irrigation times of the individual residents. The historic fountain of La Serna del Monte is still in use: on the outside, it has masonry made of large stones, while inside it has a semicircular vault made of dressed stone.

The mural “Mural de la Serna del Monte” by Caín Ferreras depicts two shaking hands. The handshake is connected to the town’s historical significance as a place for buying and selling livestock and was traditionally regarded as equivalent to signing a contract.

Routes

The route for discovering the Middle Lozoya Valley includes a gastronomic experience in La Serna del Monte. The town is also included in the “Ruta por los relojes de sol”, which connects Navarredonda, Gandullas, La Serna del Monte, Madarcos and Aoslos.

Getting There

La Serna del Monte can be reached via the A-1, the Autovía del Norte.

Other Places

Other places in this selection include Villalbilla, Patones, Robledillo De La Jara, Buitrago Del Lozoya, Robledo De Chavela, Cercedilla, Montejo De La Sierra and Pinto.

To the higher-level travel overview: Madrid.