Paracuellos de Jarama: Trails, Lagoons and History

Paracuellos de Jarama offers a range of destinations to help you plan your stay: circular trails with clear route details, the Lagunas de Belvis and historic sites. The trails lead to viewpoints and observation points; local traditions and architectural history offer insights into the town’s development.

Trails and Landscape

The PR-M 45 El Pinar de los Berrocales route is a 3.5-kilometre circular trail. The estimated walking time is one hour, not including stops. From the summit, you can enjoy views of the Los Berrocales pine grove, the Jarama riverbank and Madrid. Monte El Calderillo is the largest pine forest in the municipality, covering more than 50 hectares.

The PR-M 41 Lagunas y Belvis de Jarama route is longer, at 6.3 kilometres; its estimated walking time is 1 hour and 25 minutes. The estimated walking times differ by 25 minutes, and the PR-M 41 is 2.8 kilometres longer than the PR-M 45. Check the route details locally before setting out. The PR-M 41 starts on the Camino de la Veguilla livestock trail, near the roundabout at the junction with the M-111 at kilometre 8.2 and opposite the El Picón II residential development. As road conditions can change, also check access to the starting point locally.

A branch of the PR-M 41 leads to an observation area at the Lagunas de Belvis. The complex comprises 25 ponds covering a total of 54.4 hectares, of which 3.9 hectares are wetland. The Community of Madrid has designated the lagoons as wetlands of special interest. A section of the PR-M 41 runs through the protected riverside zone of the Jarama.

Another route is the PR-M 44 Lavadero y Guindaleras, which starts at Plaza de San Pedro. Check the current signs before setting out. Launched in 2025, the Marchas de los Senderos de Paracuellos programme organises guided walks every quarter. Check the specific dates for future editions.

Local Traditions and History

Iglesia de San Vicente Mártir stands in Plaza de la Constitución and is open to visitors. Check that it is still accessible before your trip, as this may change. Corpus Christi is also part of local tradition: altars are set up in the streets for the occasion. The tradition continues, although the specific arrangements may vary from year to year.

The historic washhouse was used until the 1980s and was later restored by the municipality together with Fuente Seca. These places offer a glimpse into everyday life and water use in the past. The original settlement grew on the slopes of Castillo de Malsobaco. The simple fortification had a single tower and housed a small garrison to defend the surrounding area.

Palacio de Medinaceli was built in the Early Modern period, during Paracuellos’s cultural and economic boom, made possible by the wealth of the Pardo-de la Cerda family. Another way to explore local history is the Museo de Usos y Costumbres Etnográficas de Belvis (MUCEB): it was established in 1995 in a former rural home and houses objects donated by local residents.

The PR-M 41 ends just before the entrance to Parque Colonos in Belvis de Jarama. A visit to the Museo Etnológico is also possible in Belvis; check the visiting arrangements in advance. The Bunker de la Boca de las Zorras is listed as a scenic and historic point of interest on the PR-M 45. The derelict structure is privately owned and should not be entered.

Discover more destinations: Humanes De Madrid, Robregordo, Bustarviejo, Galapagar, Titulcia, Griñón, Leganés, Chinchon

For the main travel overview: Madrid.