Colmenar Del Arroyo: Culture, Mills and Trails

When planning a trip to Colmenar del Arroyo, you can explore its architecture, trails and local events as separate areas of interest. Blockhaus-13, churches, bridges and mills are highlights of the town’s cultural heritage; there are also hiking trails and seasonal food and cultural events. You can tailor your stay to whether you are most interested in buildings, a particular route or a local event.

Buildings and the history of milling

Blockhaus-13 is the only completed fortification of its type in the Community of Madrid and is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (Asset of Cultural Interest). The site lies about two kilometres northeast of the town centre. Its main reinforced-concrete structure measures ten metres in diameter, with four smaller firing positions.

The Iglesia Parroquial de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora was built in the Renaissance style between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Its features include a coffered ceiling, a Baroque altarpiece, several carved wooden sculptures and a 17th-century baptismal font. Of the former Iglesia de San Vicente, built between the 12th and 13th centuries, only the espadaña (bell gable) survives.

The two stone bridges can also be distinguished by their construction: the Puente del Caño is built of ashlar masonry and stone and has two semicircular arches. The Puente de la Fragua is built of ashlar and rubble masonry and has a single semicircular arch.

There are three watermills within the municipality, along the Corralizo stream. They are now ruins and are considered of tourist or educational interest. Only the mill shaft survives at the Molino de El Cubo; its interior is made of large ashlar blocks, while its exterior is faced with rubble masonry. At the Molino de Retes, the millrace, shaft and part of the adjoining outbuilding remain. The Molino de Las Viñas is thought to be the oldest of the three mills; some of its roughly worked ashlar blocks appear to have come from another building. Check locally for information about access to the mill ruins.

Trails and landscape

Colmenar del Arroyo lies within the ZEPA 56 Special Protection Area for Birds and is part of the Cuenca del río Alberche y Cofio Biosphere Reserve. Egyptian vultures, lesser kestrels, rock buntings, golden orioles and tawny owls are spotted in the area; sightings vary and are seasonal.

Local routes include urban paths and hiking trails suitable for walking, horse riding and cycling. There are eleven routes and trails in total; two belong to the Community of Madrid’s Sendas Verdes network. These include the Senda de la Dehesa de Navalmoral and the Senda Circuito Paseo de Colmenar del Arroyo. The Watermills Route along the Arroyo de Colmenar offers specific route details: it is a 12-kilometre circular route of moderate difficulty. The stated walking time is around three and a half hours, with 120 metres of elevation gain. Trail conditions and signage may change; check local notices before setting out.

Local cuisine and seasonal events

Colmenar del Arroyo takes part each year, usually in January, in the Ruta del Garbanzo Madrileño. For the event’s weekend menu, local restaurants serve a dish featuring chickpeas from the Garbancera Madrileña as the main ingredient, accompanied by a wine from the D.O. Vinos de Madrid. Check the dates and participating restaurants for the year in question.

The Jornadas del Pincho y la Cazuelita take place on the first weekend of May in Plaza de España. The event includes a market featuring local pinchos, wines from the Community of Madrid and typical local handicrafts. Concerts for Clásicos de Verano are scheduled at the church on Fridays in July; check the dates for the year in question before your trip. On 31 December, the Hoguera de los Quintos takes place, with a romería (pilgrimage), a shared meal and a bonfire.

Your travel plans will depend on what you want to focus on: for the mill route, walking time and elevation gain are relevant, while for seasonal events, the dates and programmes for the year in question matter. This lets you plan your trip around the activity you have in mind.

Discover more destinations: Madarcos, Galapagar, Torrejón De Velasco, Valdeavero, Carabaña, Villarejo De Salvanés, Estremera, Buitrago Del Lozoya.

For the broader travel overview: Madrid.