Campo Real: Churches, Olive Groves and History
Accommodation in Campo Real
When looking for a hotel, the first thing to consider is whether the destination suits your travel plans. Campo Real combines historic buildings, countryside trails and local olive products. This can help you decide whether you want to focus your stay mainly on culture, nature trails or local produce.
Churches, Chapels and Historic Buildings
The townscape is defined by the Iglesia Parroquial de Santa MarĂa del Castillo, which stands on a hill in an elevated position. Remains of a Hispano-Arabic castle were used in its construction, and the church is surrounded by remnants of the defensive wall. Its architecture combines Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. Since 1981, it has been protected as a Bien de InterĂ©s Cultural in the Monumento HistĂłrico-ArtĂstico category.
The chapels also tell different stories of construction. The Ermita de la Virgen de las Angustias is considered the oldest chapel in the municipality of Campo Real and dates back to the 16th century. The Ermita de la Virgen de los Remedios was also built in the 16th century and rebuilt in the 18th century. In the center, behind the Plaza Mayor, stands the Baroque Ermita del Santo Cristo de la Peña, built in 1717.
The Palacio de los Condes de Oñate was built in the mid-17th century. Its grounds included stables and a private garden. A waterwheel and a basin supplied the cultivated land with water. Campo Real also had a historic pottery industry, with as many as 30 workshops using Arab kilns. This architectural and craft history adds further dimensions to the town beyond its parish church.
Countryside and Trails Around Campo Real
Olive groves and plants such as thyme, rosemary and rockrose shape the countryside around Campo Real. There are numerous hiking and cycling routes in and around the town. Among the named nature trails is the “Campo Real. Cerro de los Rosales y la Vega” route. Along the nature trails, you may be able to spot hares, partridges, foxes, great bustards, wild boar and small birds of prey.
The Vega de Valdemembrillo was designed as a pleasant woodland park with benches and paths; a spring there was channelled. The Parque de La Fuente offers a different scene: it has a livestock watering trough fed by a spring, with a washbasin beside it. Today, the area is laid out as a shady summer garden. Both places offer different insights into Campo Real’s landscaped open spaces.
Olives, Olive Oil and Other Products
Since 1995, Aceitunas de Campo Real has held the Denominación de Calidad Aceitunas de Campo Real quality designation. The named varieties include Manzanilla de Campo Real and Manzanilla Cacereña. Traditionally, the olives are cured with natural ingredients such as thyme, fennel, oregano and garlic. Olive oil from Campo Real is made from Manzanilla and Cornicabra, two varieties typical of the area.
Rosemary honey is another product linked to the landscape: honey harvested in the countryside around Campo Real is golden and slightly fruity. Another local story concerns sheep’s cheese. In the mid-20th century, 14 livestock farmers from Campo Real joined together to produce it by hand, leading to the creation of the Cooperativa Castellana de Ganaderos.
Annual Festivals and Planning Your Visit
Every year on 14 September, a procession for the SantĂsimo Cristo de la Peña passes through the streets of Campo Real. The RomerĂa del Santo sets out from the Plaza de Campo Real in decorated wagons on the weekend after the San Isidro festival and heads to the Vega de Valdemembrillo, where a picnic takes place. If you want to plan your trip around either event, check the specific dates in advance.
The Museo de AlfarerĂa y Productos TĂpicos is closed until further notice for renovation and adaptation work. Check whether it has reopened before your trip.
Getting There and Finding a Hotel
Campo Real can be reached via the A-3 Madrid–Valencia, exit 22, and via the M-209. At La Poveda, the M-209 joins the A-3; it also leads to Arganda del Rey. Check current traffic and road conditions before setting off. The town’s historic buildings, trails and local products offer different ways to see how Campo Real fits your travel plans before you look for a hotel for your stay.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Villaviciosa De OdĂłn, Aldea Del Fresno, Boadilla Del Monte, Horcajuelo De La Sierra, Humanes De Madrid, Montejo De La Sierra, Gargantilla Del Lozoya, Braojos.
For the main travel overview: Madrid.
