Just an hour from Madrid, there is a forest with a fairytale aesthetic and linked to the history of the city since the fourteenth century. Its leafy trees that filter the light, its imposing lake and its hut can evoke the magical nature of Studio Ghibli films such as Princess Mononoke or My Neighbor Totoro .
As in the Japanese gardens of Alcobendas, we see how the harmony between vegetation and architecture connects us with the Japanese tradition. Wood and nature invite to walk and contemplate the environment.
We are referring to the Finnish Forest of Rascafría, located in the Sierra de Guadarrama, north of Madrid. Its poplars, birches and firs are also reminiscent of Scandinavian vegetation, hence its name. In addition, this enclave houses an old cabin that was used as a sauna and a fairytale lake with its own dock.
If we start the route from Rascafría we will be able to cross part of the Lozoya River, pass by the Paular Monastery and cross bridges that are more than 600 years old. In total, a 13-kilometer circular route where monuments and nature create a great experience.
The role of the first edition of Don Quixote
To access the Bosque Filandés, the first thing to do is to cross the Camino del Papel, which the Carthusian monks of the 14th century used to reach a paper mill. They took advantage of the water in the area to propel it and shape this material. The mill was as important as this fact certifies: its paper was used to print the first edition of Don Quixote in 1605.
Next, we cross the Puente de la Reina, a stone structure that crosses the stream and leads to the Puente del Perdón, whose origin dates back to the Middle Ages. During the Reconquest, the Christian knights were looking for settlements to repopulate the area and were in charge of sending to the gallows anyone who could endanger the new order. Those who were spared from the gallows crossed this bridge and were “pardoned”, hence its name.
A national monument next to the forest
Following this route, you can contemplate the Monastery of Santa María del Paular, founded in 1390 by the Carthusian order. Over time it has undergone architectural changes, so that its church, cloister and sacristy combine Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements.
At the end of the 19th century, King Alfonso XII declared it a national monument and it is currently inhabited by Benedictine monks. It can be visited from Wednesday to Sunday for about 7 euros per person.
A pier and a fairytale cabin
The route continues to the Finnish Forest, where we can find a cabin that once served as a sauna. It is ideal for imagining stories and taking pictures. In addition, you can reach a lake that has its own dock from which to rest and contemplate the water.
The landscape stands out for its lush vegetation, which makes it an ideal getaway at any time of the year. Its pines, firs, poplars and birches constitute a small climatic refuge to escape the heat in summer.
In autumn, when it is covered with leaves, it is even more reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films. A few months later, the winter snow turns it into a real Nordic forest, living up to its name.
How to get to the Finnish Forest
The fastest way to reach the Finnish Forest is by car, a journey of about an hour from Madrid. It is best to take the A-1 highway north and follow the M-604 until you reach Rascafría.
It is also possible to get there by public transport, with the 194 bus from the Plaza de Castilla interchange. The trip takes about two hours and goes through different villages of the Lozoya valley until it reaches Rascafría. From there, you can walk about 25 minutes to the start of the route.