53 km northwest of the capital, this town stands at the head of the river whose name it bears, next to the Santillana reservoir
With a population already exceeding 5,700, its historic centre lies at over 900m above sea level.
The municipal area is within the northern part of the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park, representing the largest contribution of any town to the Park, one of the Madrid region's most important nature reserves.
What to See
La Pedriza
It includes the very special and highly popular site called La Pedriza, set in the heart of the Guadarrama mountain range, a spectacular boulderstrewn range of curious limestone shapes, which was made a protected area as long ago as 1930, before being included in the Regional Park in 1985.
The aforementioned Santillana reservoir is a bird reserve where mallards, grebes, herons and even golden eagles, to name but a few, can be seen without difficulty. Another feature of environmental value in the area is the Manzanares Environmental Education Centre, set beside the very road through La Pedriza ; a visit here is a 'must' before entering the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park. As if this were not enough, there are three recreation areas to enjoy here, all three in La Pedriza itself: : La Garganta, the so-called Chopera de Samburiel and the one named Canto Cochino.
Mendoza castle
La Pedriza, the reservoir... and the other landmark, perhaps the most recognizable, of Manzanares el Real is the castle, or rather castles, for there are two of these marvels of medieval military architecture, specifically from the C14th and C15th. The latter has been a 'site of cultural interest' since 1931, as a historic- artistic monument, and the older castle since 1949. The Old Castle , as it is called, lies on the southern slopes of La Pedriza, while the newer one is very close to the river and nearer to the town; it is also the better-known and more recognizable of the two, and is often called the Mendoza castle. While the old castle served as a fortress, the new was built as a palatial residence, and has been restored since the 1960's. It belongs at present to the autonomous region of Madrid, having been donated to the latter by the Casa del Infantado for a period of sixty years. The castle is the work of the architect Juan Guas; in the mid-C16th, shortly after its construction, it was abandoned. Today it is also a castle museum, and its exhibits include a collection of tapestries.
The church of Nuestra señora de las Nieves
Other sites of artistic interest in Manzanares el Real include cave paintings from the Bronze Age discovered in La Pedriza; the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Peña Sacra, dating from the C16th and much damaged during the Civil War last century; the church of Nuestra señora de las Nieves, built at the end of the C15th and Romanesque and Gothic in equal parts; the Renaissance fountains; and the ruins of two historic windmills. The town also has a museum of ethnology and archaeology. As if all this were not enough, the many 'fiestas' in August are also recommended.
Gastronomy
The exquisite gastronomic culture of the area comes from way back, to the days when the "Cuenca Alta del Manzanares" was mainly dedicated to cattle raising. The incomparable quality of the pastures of this natural environment was also then one of the keys to the taste and tenderness of its meats. In addition, its famous fish dishes also from long ago are prepared with fresh fish captured in the waters of the winding river and the reservoir. Deep gastronomic roots those of the Manzanares, good food traditions which remain nowadays not only in its "Asadores" (carveries) of traditional Castilian style where you might enjoy from the classical "Caldereta de Cabrito" (Goat stew) to the grilled pasture veal, but also in its new restaurants specialized in fish, their rotated sea bream delights the most refined palates. Both, fish and meat are accompanied by vegetables from a most select garden.
According to the experts, other specialties you must try are the potato and goat stew, the chickpea stew soup with mint and the marinated rabbit or rabbit stew, this last dish seasoned with rosemary giving it a unique taste.
And last, you cannot miss a good mountain dessert such as their famous porridges. Manzanares offers, in other words, a succulent range of possibilities which will not disappoint the most demanding good food lovers.
Other information of interest
As a reaction to the historical, artistic, cultural and sports interest it arouses, Manzanares el Real is increasing its attractive tourist offer with a surprising selection of hotel beds which at present consists of hotels and hostels as well as many apartments and villas which can be rented for periods that go from a weekend to the whole summer season. For the more adventurous ones, Manzanares also has a campsite at the foot of the mountain and the Peñalara mountain hut in La Pedriza.
