Discover Manzanares El Real: Castles, Nature and History

Construction of the Castillo Nuevo de los Mendoza in Manzanares El Real began in 1475. Its square floor plan, three round battlemented towers and an octagonal keep are decorated with traditional Isabelline balls, which adorn all the towers. The Statute of Autonomy of the Madrid region was adopted at the Castillo Nuevo de los Mendoza in 1983.

If you are planning a stay in a holiday apartment in Manzanares El Real, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies among the available offers. You can also choose different focuses for your trip: castles, landscapes, religious traditions or local collections.

Culture and History

On the right bank of the Manzanares River, the Castillo Viejo de Manzanares El Real stands on a hill. From there, it overlooks La Pedriza, the Cañada Real Segoviana and the Manzanares River; its shape and outer walls have been preserved. The Church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves has a vault designed by Juan Guas. Its garden, a former cemetery, preserves funerary steles from the 13th and 14th centuries.

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Peña Sacra dates from the late 15th century. Every year on Whit Monday, a procession in Manzanares El Real makes its way to this hermitage; afterwards, a romería is celebrated in the nearby meadow. The Museo Etnológico y Arqueológico preserves local traditions, objects and utensils, archaeological finds and old photographs.

The cultural sites can highlight different aspects: architectural history, sacred architecture, religious tradition and local collections stand alongside one another as distinct themes.

You can focus your attention on individual types of discovery: observing architectural forms, sacred spaces, inherited customs, or objects and photographs. Such an emphasis does not have to treat all topics equally.

Other places: Colmenarejo, Cervera De Buitrago, Madrid, Majadahonda, Olmeda De Las Fuentes, Villalbilla, El Boalo, Alcobendas

Nature and Trails

The Ruta Verde La Vuelta al Yelmo begins and ends in Manzanares El Real. At the entrance to La Pedriza, the visitor information point is located directly behind the barrier; there, you can obtain local route maps and recommendations for your visit. La Pedriza can be reached from Manzanares El Real and is characterised by striking granite peaks with unusual shapes. It is a popular place for climbing.

When it comes to trails and landscapes, you can distinguish according to your own preference between the route, climbing and birdwatching. These approaches can appear as separate focuses in your planning. You decide for yourself whether the history of the place or the landscape forms the central focus.

The Santillana Reservoir is considered a preferred location for nesting and migratory activity, as well as for birdwatching.

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