Robledo de Chavela is a village in the Sierra Oeste region of Madrid (about 70 kilometers from the capital) that hides a treasure. During restoration work on the vault of the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, paintings of dragons were discovered that had remained hidden for centuries beneath a layer of lime.
The heads of the beasts, which date from around the year 1500, form a collection unique in Spain and stand out for their large size and sheer number: nearly eighty dragons bare their fangs at visitors to the church in this small town in Madrid. The church was designated a Site of Cultural Interest in 2021.
It is these Gothic monsters that give their name to the Robledo Dragons Arts and Heritage Festival, held every summer since 2019. The spirit of this cultural project lies in its unique approach to heritage as a space open to the public and to contemporary artistic creation.
Specifically, this edition is structured around memory—both the collective memory of the town and that of its elders and traditional trades. In Robledo de Chavela, tradition and creativity go hand in hand during a festival whose activities are also open to the public of all ages free of charge.
The program of activities for the Robledo Dragons Festival
As is customary at this rural festival, the program for this eighth edition includes concerts as well as contests and workshops on bobbin lace-making, painting, and creative writing. Some of these events are open to all ages, while others are specifically designed for children or adults.
Highlights of the program include, among other activities, the traditional “Bobbin Lace Makers’ Gathering, ” to be held on Saturday, August 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Plaza de España, and the speed painting contest on Sunday, August 9. In addition, both Saturday and Sunday will conclude with musical performances.
The concert on the 8th will take place in the Plaza de España at 10:00 p.m. and will feature Sandra Carrasco, David de Arahal, Lito Mánez, and José María Cortina, who will take the audience on a journey through traditional songs, flamenco, and copla.
Finally, Robledo de Chavela will close out its festival on Sunday, August 9, at the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady at 9:00 p.m. with the concert “Paisajes del Agua” (Landscapes of Water), the latest project by pianist Chano Domínguez and flutist Trinidad Jiménez. The performance will create a dialogue between jazz, flamenco, and soundscapes, inviting the audience to listen to water as a reflection of the region’s history.
A visit to Robledo is also an opportunity to see the dragon paintings that symbolize its festival. To that end, 45-minute guided tours will be held on Saturday morning from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Church of the Assumption.