Manzanares El Real: Castles, Church and Granite Landscape

Manzanares El Real can be explored through a wide range of themes: the architectural history of its castles and churches, local traditions, and the distinctive granite landscape of La Pedriza. The Embalse de Santillana is also part of the town’s natural setting. For planning your trip, it is therefore worth taking a closer look at the buildings, history and landscape rather than associating Manzanares El Real with just one landmark.

Castles and their history

Construction of the Castillo Nuevo de los Mendoza began in 1475. Its square ground plan, three round battlemented towers and octagonal keep give the building a clearly structured form. All the towers are decorated with traditional Isabelline balls. These details help you appreciate the architecture not only as a whole, but also through its individual components: the ground plan, towers and keep each have their own distinctive form.

The Castillo Nuevo is also connected with the region’s political history. In 1983, the Statute of Autonomy of the Region of Madrid was adopted there. Architecture and more recent history thus come together in the same building, without one replacing the other.

The Castillo Viejo de Manzanares El Real offers a different perspective on the town’s history. It stands on a hill on the right bank of the Manzanares River and overlooks La Pedriza, the Cañada Real Segoviana and the river. The shape of the complex and its outer walls have been preserved. Its surviving appearance therefore differs from that of the Castillo Nuevo: at one castle, the towers and keep described above define the view, while at the other, the preserved shape and walls are what matter most.

Church, hermitage and local traditions

A vault designed by Juan Guas is a notable architectural detail in the church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves. The church complex also includes a garden that was once a cemetery. Gravestones dating from the 13th and 14th centuries have been preserved there. This means you can encounter both a distinctive architectural feature and evidence of burial history in one place.

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Peña Sacra dates from the late 15th century. It is associated with an annual tradition: on Whit Monday, a procession makes its way to the hermitage, followed by a Romería on a nearby meadow. The event combines a religious occasion with a community celebration afterwards.

The Museo Etnológico y Arqueológico preserves local traditions, objects and utensils, archaeological finds, and old photographs. Its collection brings together different kinds of mementos: everyday objects and traditions, as well as archaeological items and images from the past. Museum collections offer another way to explore the town’s history, complementing the impressions conveyed by its architecture and historic sites.

La Pedriza, routes and nature watching

La Pedriza can be reached from Manzanares El Real and is known for its striking granite peaks with unusual shapes. The landscape is also a popular place for climbing. Those interested in rock formations will find a different focus here from the town’s castles and churches.

One specific route option is the Ruta Verde La Vuelta al Yelmo, which starts and ends in Manzanares El Real. The La Pedriza visitor information point is just beyond the barrier at the entrance to La Pedriza and provides local route maps and recommendations for your visit. The route details and the information point thus serve as two different guides: one gives the start and end of a route, while the other offers maps and recommendations for visiting La Pedriza.

The Embalse de Santillana also offers its own connection with nature. It is a favored place for birds to nest and migrate, and for birdwatching. Together with the granite peaks and climbing, this adds a theme to the surrounding landscape that differs from its architecture and local traditions.

Discover more destinations: Garganta De Los Montes, Estremera, Soto Real, Leganés, Jardín De Serracines, Madarcos, El Berrueco, Cadalso

For the broader travel overview: Madrid.