Lozoya River Basin-Sierra Rincón Mountains

La Hiruela

This small town at the north-eastern end of the province of Madrid, and surrounded by Calahorra hills, the Sierra de la Concha Mountains and Artilla Hill, provides visitors with unrivalled panoramas. Immediately on arrival, a spectacular view unfolds displaying the richness of nature all around.

La Hiruela is a small hamlet with very few people living there, but has come back to life thanks to rural and eco-tourism A walk through the streets will immerse you in a traditional community with mountain-style stone buildings, whose small windows do not let in the cold of winter; some have small yards and vegetable gardens. There is the Baroque San Miguel Arcángel church, built on the site of an earlier one from the 17th century. The two main streets meet at Plaza Huerta de las Pastores Square, where you can see a row of granite balconies decorated in the de Herrera style -very common in the architecture of Madrid.

The Jarama River and several streams run nearby. If you are interested in hunting, there is the Sonsaz Hunting Reservenot far away. A good restaurant is open at weekends, where you can try the traditional cooking of the Madrid mountains, although if you go during the festival at the beginning of October, you can taste for yourself the communal lamb stew made for townsfolk and visitors.

You have to go over the Hiruela pass to reach the next stop on the route, Montejo de la Sierra. At 1478 metres above sea level, the road takes you along snaking bends around splendid rock formations, separating the Jarama and Lozoya River basins.

Montejo de la Sierra[+]

Montejo de la Sierra, formerly known as Montejo del Rincón, is in the Sierra del Rincón Mountains. Nearby is one of the most beautiful and magical spots not only in the Madrid region, but in the whole of Spain. The Montejo Beechwoods But first, take a look at the village.

Montejo is a pretty mountain village that has long links with hunting. So much so, that the Book of Hunting by Alfonso XI of Castile in the 14th century, mentions it as a particularly good place for hunting game bears, wild boar and foxes. It was founded when the Castilians conquered the area, and shepherds and livestock farmers from Segovia were believed to be the first to settle there.

However, some of the early houses that can still be seen are from a later date, the 15th century, which is also when San Pedro church was built. This church is Mudejar and there is oak coffering at the main altar. It contains the carving of a Romanesque Virgin from the 13th century originally from the village's shrine of Nazaret, two kilometres away. In the Plaza Mayor Square you can take a refreshing drink from the three outlets of the stone fountain built in 1830, bringing deliciously pure water from the mountains.

There are several festivals held every year, with the most important being the burning of San Judas, Holy Saturday and Mayday, which has been recently revived. This is on the 1st May, when a tree cut from the woods nearby is placed in the square. The young girls and boys of the village draw lots under the tree to pair off for the time the celebrations last.

Montejo Beechwoods[+]

Near to Montejo is the southernmost beechwood in Europe, a mixed woodland of beech and oaks not usual at these latitudes. As it is a protected area, visiting is strictly limited and you first have to ask for permission from the mountain resource centre in Montejo de la Sierra.

The wood covers almost a hundred hectares, and the best times to visit are in spring and autumn, when the leaves change colour from the brightest green to yellow, passing through gold, copper and fiery reds on the way. It is, without doubt, a spectacular place and a must to visit if you are in the Sierra del Rincón Mountains. A jewel of nature swathing the whole area in a halo of magic.

If you want to enjoy the splendour of the beechwood at leisure, you can spend the night in Montejo and regain your energy with delicious meat roasted in a wood-fired oven, or a hearty plate of beans from the mountains.

Horcajuelo de la Sierra

You return to the road at Horcajuelo de la Sierra, at almost two kilometres from Montejo. This small village lives mainly by livestock farming, The oldest building there is San Nicolás de Bari church, with a splendid Gothic chapel dating from the 15th century. It is situated in the centre at the highest point, overlooking the whole village. Small streets start from here, criss-crossing each other and inviting a closer look.

The Ethnological Museum was recently set up and opened in 1997, showing what traditional life was like the mountains, as well as modern art exhibitions. The visit to the museum includes a forge that has been restored as the old blacksmith's workshop.

As with all the towns on this route, Horcajuelo is also surrounded by a wealth of nature. Several paths lead from the town to the woods and hills nearby.

Prádena del Rincón

Prádena del Rincón is very similar to the other towns you have seen on the route, both in the way it was founded and the development of the economy. The town has a new lease of life thanks to rural tourism and because it has become a second home for many people from the city of Madrid. Most of the houses abandoned during the second half of the last century are being renovated for use, while fully preserving the mountain style of building which has made these villages so special.

Prádena del Rincón is the headquarters of the Sierra del Rincón Association, a body created to promote projects common to the five towns on this route. You can find the information here on the natural areas that you can visit, and what is required.

Prádena still has a good number of traditional stone houses. The old town clings to the hillside, with winding streets going down to the lower part, where the church is. Santo Domingo church has a 13th-century Romanesque apse, a tall tower and two portals.

The festival is held in July, although old traditions have recently been reinstated, such as slaughtering a pig in winter and the hornazo, a nutritious meal that you can try in the company of the people of Prádena.

Puebla de la Sierra

The route ends at the Puebla de la Sierra, just over eighteen kilometres from Prádena. This small village displays a contrast of colours between the red of the roofs and the brightness of the surrounding greenery. The winding streets, so narrow that they allow scarcely any light through, lead to the Purísima Concepción church. This is the best spot from where to admire the splendid views.

Puebla is in the heart of the Sierra del Rincón Mountains through which these five villages have taken you, and which in June 2005 were declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO for its magnificent natural resources. Woods of beech, oak, holm oaks and pine, inhabited by a wide variety of animals: vultures, eagles, owls, roe deer, wild boar, deer and foxes live side by side in one of the most beautiful places in the Madrid mountains.