Welcome to the mountains of Madrid! A bucolic landscape in the capital where you can enjoy the best views from the municipality of Rascafría, where you can contemplate the typical nature of the Lozoya valley where it is located, and the mountains of Sierra de Guadarrama.
Without a doubt, Rascafría enjoys a landscape that is worth visiting, although it is not the only thing it has to offer tourists. Would you like to know which are the essential places in this part of the Sierra Norte of Madrid?
It is said that its name comes from the term "cold rocks" in Spanish, which refers to the Peñalara peak and the snow, almost always present there. Taking advantage of these conditions, it is common to see winter sports lovers on their skis at the Valdesquí resort, a place that has served the municipality to turn tourism into one of its main economic engines in addition to livestock and the timber sector.
One of the main attractions of Rascafría is undoubtedly the Monastery of El Paular, a monument that also receives the distinction of Cultural Interest. In the surrounding area you can also find emblems of the municipality such as the Puente del Perdón (Forgiveness Bridge) and the Giner de los Ríos Arboretum.
The first of these is a stone bridge that dates from the 18th century, but whose origin is from the 14th century, deteriorated by the action of the water on the river Lozoya that it crosses, allowing passage over it.
The second is a natural space of great importance, as it has a representation of different trees and bushes that are classified according to the continent of origin. It is also a part of the Visitor Centre of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, which you can visit to enjoy its beauty.
In the town centre of Rascafría we find the Town Hall, located in the Plaza de la Villa where you can also visit the Old Casa de Postas. It is one of the important buildings of the municipality, reconstructed in 1984 and with a clear neo-Mudejar influence.
The church of San Andrés Apóstol must be another stop on your route. The original part, before the modifications, was built in the 15th century, although it suffered great damage during the Spanish Civil War. As a curious fact, the bells on its tower disappeared during this period, and the current ones are made with materials from two of the planes that hit nearby areas of the Sierra de Guadarrama.
As for the celebrations, we highlight those in honour of the Virgen de Gracia and San Roque in the month of August. These festivities are the most fun in Rascafría, ideal to enjoy with the family.
Carnival, San Sebastian and San Antonio are just some of the events that await you in the municipality where you can try the local cuisine and enjoy the most deeply rooted tradition.
The gastronomic factor is missing from the DNA of this location in the Madrid mountains. Don't forget to sit down at the table of any of its establishments to taste any of the classic mountain recipes of the area. Among them, game and mushrooms are abundant, as it is a place with a great mycological heritage due to its climate and its soil.
Enjoy the enviroment!
