Just an hour from Madrid there is a giant that exceeds the 45 meters high Santiago Bernabeu stadium. It is not a construction or an urban monument: it is a tree more than a hundred years old that is a real natural jewel.
We are talking about a large sequoia known as La Reina, located in the gardens of the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso(Segovia). It has a height of 50 meters, according to the measurement made with laser in May 2019, and a diameter of 11 meters, as collected by Monumental Trees.
La Granja de San Ildefonso is known as the Spanish Versailles and its gardens should reflect the same grandeur and importance as the buildings. It is estimated that this giant sequoia was planted approximately in 1870, so its 155 years of life add to the history and heritage value of the palace.
The sequoias that crossed the Atlantic Ocean
Sequoias are not a typical Spanish tree, but come from the ancient forests of the Sierra Nevada in California, where they have grown for millennia. They arrived in Europe in the 19th century, as a result of botanical expeditions and the work of collectors such as William Lobb.
Thus, several sequoias were planted in the gardens of La Granja de San Ildefonso. Although the most famous is La Reina, next to it there is another equally imposing one known as El Rey. Both are located in the garden of the Potosi parterre, but we can find four more in the Parterre de Andromeda, another two in the Club de Tiro and three or four more in the garden of the mansion on Paseo del Pocillo.
In fact, a photo by Jean Laurent dated 1860 already shows tall trees in the Granja de San Ildefonso, which raises doubts about the exact date of planting of these sequoias.
In any case, La Reina joins the list of the largest trees in Spain, along with other sequoias such as those in the Cabezón de la Sal forest in Cantabria or the Sierra de La Sagra in Granada.
La Reina sequoia on five million coupons
The greatness of sequoias has not gone unnoticed. Last August 11, ONCE dedicated one of its daily coupons to La Reina de La Granja de San Ildefonso. Her image was printed on five million vouchers as part of the “Embrace your tree” series , which aims to highlight the value of Spain’s natural treasures.
This tribute highlights the value of giant sequoias as an ecological, historical and emotional heritage. Beyond their dimensions, these trees have witnessed history and contribute to the symbolism of the great national palaces.
How to get to La Granja de San Ildefonso
From Madrid, La Granja de San Ildefonso is approximately one hour away. The fastest way is by car, by the A-6 highway or the AP-61 highway .
It is also possible to arrive by public transport. From the Moncloa Interchange you can take a bus that arrives at the bus station in Segovia and leaves with a frequency of about 45 minutes. This journey can also be made by train, taking the AVE to the Segovia-Guiomar station. In both cases, it is necessary to connect with the city bus line 12 to La Granja.