Discover Colmenarejo

Colmenarejo brings together several themes to consider when planning a trip: routes connected with Embalse de Valmayor, church and architectural history, and the Antigua Mina Pilar. If you are looking for a hotel in Colmenarejo, you can choose your focus based on whether trails and landscapes or heritage and tradition are a better fit for your stay.

Routes and landscape

The Senda de Colmenarejo a San Blas (R12) starts and ends at the Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol de Colmenarejo. It is 7.1 km long; the main route covers 5.6 km. The total length is therefore 1.5 km longer than the main route; this difference shows that the main stretch does not cover the full stated distance. A branch leads to the San Blas area on the shore of Embalse de Valmayor. The route's facilities include the Área Recreativa de la Ermita de Colmenarejo. Trail conditions and facilities may change; check both before setting out.

There are eight designated routes in Colmenarejo that are suitable for cyclists and hikers. Route 13 runs from Colmenarejo to Villanueva del Pardillo. Parque de la Trashumancia is also designated as a destination for hikers.

Colmenarejo lies within Parque Regional de la Cuenca Media del Río Guadarrama. Embalse de Valmayor covers 775 ha and lies in the municipalities of El Escorial, Valdemorillo, Colmenarejo and Galapagar. It is also associated with the protected status of Parque Regional del Curso Medio del río Guadarrama y su entorno. This makes it possible to distinguish the town's location within the park from the reservoir's location across several municipalities.

Culture and history

The origins of Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol date back to the 16th century. Three naves separated by semicircular arches divide the church; its late Renaissance altarpiece was created in 1612. The layout and altarpiece offer two different insights into the building's architecture and history.

Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad marks a more recent period: it was built in 1999 as a simple granite structure with glass windows and a slate roof. The ermita lies on the route to Embalse de Valmayor. Every year on the first Sunday in September, the Romería de la Virgen de la Soledad proceeds in a procession from the church to the ermita, where the rosary is prayed. The date and the way the event unfolds give the tradition a distinct place in trip planning.

Another cultural theme is the Antigua Mina Pilar. Inside, there are turquoise and blue formations made of copper salts. The mining history and distinctive colors thus add to the picture of Colmenarejo shaped by its churches, ermita and festive tradition.

Getting to Colmenarejo

Intercity bus route 631 connects Madrid (Moncloa) with Colmenarejo via Las Rozas, Torrelodones and Galapagar. Check the timetable before your journey if you plan to travel on this service.

Discover more destinations: Valdilecha, Navalcarnero, Estremera, Valdeolmos, Somosaguas, Olmeda De Las Fuentes, Berzosa Del Lozoya, Coslada

For the broader travel overview: Madrid.