Robledo de Chavela – Church Art, Viewpoints and Nature

In Robledo de Chavela, church art, a network of viewpoints, a mountain-surrounded landscape and space-related education exist side by side.

Culture

The Iglesia parroquial de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora de Robledo de Chavela is protected as a “Bien de Interés Cultural” in the “Monumento” category. On its vaults, murals form a series of almost 80 dragon heads; they may date from around 1500. Those who view cultural impressions from different perspectives will encounter architecture, painting and panel art here in a single building.

The interior also includes a Hispano-Flemish altarpiece shaped by influences from Toledo, with 32 oil-painted panels. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, can be dated to the late 15th or early 16th century and is attributed to Antonio or Fernando del Rincón.

Nature

Most of Robledo de Chavela belongs to the “Cuencas y encinares de los ríos Alberche y Cofio” protected area; the area is almost entirely integrated into the Natura 2000 network. The landscape also shifts between different scales: the protected area describes a broad context, while Atalaya and Cabrera Baja form individual points of reference as named peaks.

Atalaya, a peak, is located nearby. Cabrera Baja is a peak in the vicinity of Robledo de Chavela.

Routes

The network of viewpoints in Robledo de Chavela can be explored by car; the exception is the Mirador del “Pinar de Robledillo”, which is reached on foot. For personal planning, means of transport, length, elevation gain and difficulty can be considered separately instead of being condensed into a single route statement.

The Ruta interpretativa - El Mirador de Robledillo runs through the surroundings of the Mirador de Robledillo and the Ermita de San Antonio de Padua; along the way, visitors can observe the flora and fauna of the mountain-surrounded landscape. The route is 7.5 km long, has an elevation gain of 200 m and has a moderate to low difficulty level.

Science

The INTA-NASA Training and Visitor Center is closed to the public until further notice. Its space-related content has a different focus from religious art. Located south of Robledo de Chavela, the center provides scientific education; planned activities cover NASA, the Deep Space Network centers, space missions and general astronomy.

Its permanent exhibition includes a genuine moon rock from the Apollo XV mission.

Surroundings

The Casita del Infante, a castle, is located nearby. The Palacio de El Escorial palace is in the vicinity of Robledo de Chavela. La Silla de Felipe II is a viewpoint in the vicinity of Robledo de Chavela.

The Mirador de la Peña Rubia, a viewpoint, is located in the wider surrounding region.

The Galería de arte Rosa Escalona is a museum in the vicinity of Robledo de Chavela. The Museo Cocheras del Rey is a museum in the vicinity of Robledo de Chavela.

More destinations

Móstoles, Titulcia, Pozuelo De Alarcón, Villavieja Del Lozoya, Collado Mediano, Navacerrada, Alcobendas, Aranjuez

To the main travel overview: Madrid.