If you are looking for a getaway for this fall near Madrid which transports you to another time, this city It’s the ideal destination. With its well-preserved medieval architecture, cobbled streets and atmosphere that seems straight out of a story, it’s like stepping into a time machine.
In addition to its fascinating history, it offers impressive natural landscapes filled with autumn colors. Do you want to know what municipality is this about?
The perfect Madrid city for a getaway this fall
Manzanares Real It is one of the most charming towns in the Community of Madrid. It is located in a privileged environment: it is in the heart of the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park and in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. In addition, it is the gateway to La Pédriza, included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
It has approximately 9,386 inhabitants according to the latest data provided by the INE and is only approximately 53 kilometers from the capital. This city has a historical heritage ranging from hermitages, Roman roads and fountains to cave paintings and medieval castles.
What to see in Manzanares el Real?
One of the main attractions of Manzanares el Real is New Mendozas Castle, one of the jewels of the military architecture of Madrid and of the medieval architecture of the Kingdom of Castile.
On the hill that dominates the Sierra de Guadarrama, Diego Hurtado of Mendoza and Figueroa (I Duke of Infantado) ordered the construction of this fortress. The works, as the Manzanares el Real website reports, have been carried out since 1475, although it was the Great Cardinal and Íñigo López de Mendoza (II Duke of the Infantado) who completed the construction.
This castle was erected as an example of this family which enjoyed the trust of the Catholic Monarchs. This fortress, thanks to the work of the architect Juan Guas, was transformed into a sumptuous residence. It has also been used as a film set. If you wish, you can discover the complete history of this construction through a theatrical performances. You can find all the timetables and prices for this activity here.
In this municipality you can see more historical monuments among which the following stand out:
- Old Castle
- Town square and town hall
- Notre-Dame des Neiges Church
- Hermitage of Our Lady of the Peña Sacra
- Old bridge of Cañada Real Segoviana
- The continuous paper factory: the Parador and the Molino de la Tuerta
- Hermitage Fountain
- Ethnological and Archaeological Museum
- Brothers’ or priest’s mill
On the other hand, if you are a nature lover you will be in the ideal place to discover its rich natural environment. You can see the surroundings of La Pedriza del Manzanares, the Santillana reservoir, the Manzanares river, etc.
This town near Madrid offers a unique getaway perfect for this fall. Do you dare to visit it?
