Puebla de la Sierra: Art, Culture and Hiking Trails

Puebla de la Sierra brings together contemporary outdoor art, historic buildings and trails through the Sierra del Rincón. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay here, these themes provide a practical starting point for planning your trip: you can focus on sculptures, local history or hikes. Getting there is also part of the plan. From the A-1, take exit 76; access routes run from Prádena del Rincón via the M-130 and from Robledillo de la Jara via a paved track. In winter, the access road may occasionally be closed due to snow. Check local conditions before setting out.

Art and historic buildings

Valle de los Sueños is an open-air collection of 120 contemporary sculptures created by 63 sculptors. The works extend along a trail of about two kilometres. They include the Silla Gigante de Meira, a metal replica on Loma del Estillo. A route to the sculpture follows the GR88 to this location. A guided visit to Valle de los Sueños includes a museum guide and a sculpture trail; check the current schedule before your trip.

The Purísima Concepción parish church also offers insight into the town’s architectural history. It dates from the early 18th century. Its main structure consists of three naves divided by semicircular arches, with an adjoining presbytery. The Ermita de la Soledad was built in 1564 and is now used as a cemetery chapel. It stands on the edge of town in the direction of Robledillo; the Fuente Árabe is nearby.

La Fragua is a 16th-century building in the Arab style, with a timber structure and large masonry walls. It is still used to repair and make ploughs, hoes, horseshoes and nails. The Museo Japonés displays contemporary Japanese painting. A guided visit includes an introduction to the museum’s collection of drawings, graphic works and contemporary Japanese art. Here, too, it is advisable to check the current schedule before your trip.

Trails and landscape

Puebla de la Sierra is part of the Sierra del Rincón. It was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 2005 in recognition of its sustainable development model. From the Mirador de Los Buitres, the view stretches across a rugged valley shaped by the Río de la Puebla to a colony of vultures on the opposite slope. The town’s old oak grove includes trees estimated to be 600 to 700 years old. Even the access road passes pine forests, native oak groves and scrubland, continuing between deep ravines.

The routes described offer different kinds of scenery. The Subida al Cerro Larda starts in Puebla de la Sierra and leads to the 1,425-metre-high Cerro Larda. The Route por los Robles Centenarios follows the Arroyo de la Cuesta and ends at the old washhouse. On the Route por Los Linares, you cross a riverside forest and pass gardens still in use, where vegetables and pulses are grown. Other leisure options include hiking trails, MTB trails and mountain roads for cycling. The destinations differ significantly: a high point, a trail along a stream, and a route through riverside woodland and cultivated gardens.

September festivities

The patron saint festivities in honour of the Virgen de los Dolores are usually held in the first or second week of September; the exact dates vary from year to year. The programme includes a procession from the Ermita to the Purísima Concepción parish church, rondallas, traditional games and other activities throughout the town. If you would like to plan your trip around the festivities, check the dates for the relevant year. Together with the sculptures, buildings and varied routes, they offer a range of specific themes to explore during your stay in Puebla de la Sierra.

Discover more destinations: Aravaca, El Molar, Villamanrique de Tajo, Los Santos De La Humosa, Pelayos De La Presa, Torrelodones, Ajalvir, Pinto.

For the main travel overview: Madrid.