Manjirón: Water, Hiking Trails and Historic Buildings

The Ruta Embalse de El Villar begins at Plaza de la Constitución in Manjirón. This 5.5 km circular hike with a low level of difficulty is part of the Caminos Carpetania trail network. It leads through dehesa landscapes characterised by rockroses to the Puentes-Viejas Reservoir, where natural rocky viewpoints offer panoramic views. The route is considered suitable for all age groups.

Nature

Water shapes the landscape and nature of Manjirón. These include holm oak groves, juniper dehesas, stone pine forests, Pyrenean oak groves, ash groves, meadows, scrubland and numerous riverside woodlands that provide a habitat for diverse fauna. The Encina de las Cercadillas is located near the centre of Manjirón and has been catalogued as an “Árbol Singular de la Comunidad de Madrid” since 2017.

Another hike is the El Hospitalillo–Manjirón stage of the Senda del Genaro. This easy route, approximately 3 km long and taking about one hour, leads through a dehesa along the “De las Eras a Valondo” livestock trail, passing stone walls, meadows and old holm oak groves. The different trail lengths, approximate duration and difficulty ratings help you compare the two hikes.

Culture

The parish church of Santiago Apóstol was built over Mudejar remains; its current structure dates from the 15th to the 16th century. It has a rectangular floor plan with a single nave and a Mudejar pointed-arch doorway.

The washhouse on Avenida del Villar, built in 1939 and restored, houses the Museo de la Piedra. The museum also serves as a venue for temporary exhibitions and is accessible to people with reduced mobility. The restored Potro de herrar is located near the museum. It consists of monolithic granite pieces together with additional wrought-iron and wooden elements and is protected by a roof.

The Fuente Vieja on Calle de la Fragua is an old stone-clad fountain near the Manjirón stream. The Antiguo Lavadero is a stop on the route from Manjirón to the El Villar Reservoir; women used to wash their clothes there, and the site served as a meeting place.

History

The Torre de Mirabel is a cylindrical tower, or atalaya, and belongs to the military architecture of the 16th to the 17th century. In 1983, it was declared a historic-artistic monument. Its features indicate that it was used as a watch post and refuge for alguaciles, with some defensive capabilities.

As another local idea, you can also visit Serrada De La Fuente.

Art

The “Las Aguas” mural by Pablo Zabala is a work from the “Paredes que Hablan” project and is located at Cjón. del Clavel 3 in Manjirón. It depicts calm and moving water and explores the relationship between humans and the control of nature, as well as the controlled flow of water at Presa del Villar.

For the higher-level travel overview: Madrid.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Bustarviejo, Berzosa Del Lozoya, Leganés, El Molar, Pelayos De La Presa, Móstoles, Guadalix de la Sierra.