In this town, just 48 minutes from the center of Madrid, is the capital’s best preserved fairy-tale castle.

Just 48 minutes (less than sixty kilometers) from the center of Madrid, Manzanares El Real is the charming town you’ve been looking for: if you need a day’s rest from the hustle and bustle of the big city, if you want a weekend getaway, or go on vacation close to home. before everything, fans of impressive castles they will not be able to stop falling in love with the beauty of the people in this town.

fairy tale castle

castle of Mendoza from the fifteenth century and not only this a vivid portrait of the medieval world and the Renaissance… is also the best preserved in the Community of Madrid and is fully museumized (in fact, there is an option for a dramatized visit with actors). The truth is that this monument is everything expected of a castle. Practically speaking, the only thing missing is a long-haired princess.

It was originally a castle, but over time it became the residential palace of the Mendoza family. So it is filled with tapestries and furniture from the 17th century. A fine example of Castilian military architecture. worth getting lost in its great halls and three-aisled church, although one of its main attractions is the garden of the senses. It is not an ordinary park with its medicinal plants, labyrinth and palenki.

However, this is not the only gem of the past that you can enjoy in Manzanares el Real. Again, you can’t miss the 15th-century church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves and the Cañada Real Segoviana bridge. Along with the hermitage of Peña Sacra Spectacular view of La Pedriza, A mountain with magical properties, according to legend.

postcard natural environment

The legacy of this small town isn’t just cultural and architectural since Manzanares El Real. It is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama. For hikers there are dream forests, a reservoir and the aforementioned “La Pedriza”.

Notice one more very interesting detail: this town two of the major roads cross into Santiago de Compostela. This fact is not accidental, not accidental: on the one hand, it is located in the northern part of the Community of Madrid, and on the other, it was the main city of the duke of the Mendoza family. With these features, it was difficult for Camino de Santiago de Madrid and Camino Mendocino not to beat Manzanares El Real.

Finally, if you go to the Santillana reservoir, you will find an excellent place for observation, as it is an Important Area for Bird Conservation. It is one of the most important places for migration and nesting of waterfowl.

Photos | @manzanareselrea.org

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