The medieval villages near Madrid are less known than such monumental cities as Alcalá de Henares or Aranjuez, but perhaps that is why they keep a certain Encanto that makes them equally attractive.
It is common for rural getaways in the region to have a more sporting purpose, whether it is to make hiking or tour the marshes in canoe but to get to know the Community in depth, it is enough to go through the history of its towns. Examples of medieval civil, religious and military architecture multiply in the north of the region.
1. Manzanares el Real
The architecture of Manzanares el Real blurs the lines between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance with its great jewel: the New Castle of the Mendoza family.
It was built in 1475 and blends both styles fluidly. It is so called because the Mendoza family, one of the most powerful families during the XV and XVI centuries, lived here. The guide Lonely Planet contemplates it as one of the most spectacular in Spain. Its interior features a Gothic gallery on the second floor and, on the exterior, in an excellent state of preservation, its four towers, battlements, machicolations and arrow slits, which offer impressive views.
This town in the upper basin of the Manzanares also takes care of its privileged natural environment. It is the gateway to La Pedriza, which is part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves and one of the great enclaves for hikers and climbers in Madrid.
⏱️ A 46 min drive from Madrid city.
2. Buitrago de Lozoya
Buitrago de Lozoya is a medieval village surrounded by the best preserved wall in the region and the Lozoya River, of course. The Middle Ages left good traces in the village: it also has a Mendoza castle -older and worse conditions than the one in Manzanares-, the Reloj tower and the XIV century church, as well as the peculiar old bridge with remains of the aqueduct.
Among the surprises that Buitrago del Lozoya has to offer, we also find a museum that collects the works that Pablo Picasso gave to his hairdresser. A village near Madrid, perfect for a kayak excursion or by bike in the surroundings.
⏱️ 1 hour by car from Madrid city.
3. Torrelaguna
Torrelaguna was declared a Historic-Artistic Suite in 1974 thanks to the large number of examples of Castilian buildings of different styles that it houses. The Arteaga or Infantado palace, the Salinas palace and the Plaza de la Montera houses are just some of the many charms of civil architecture that Torrelaguna has.
This is the town that saw the birth of Cardinal Cisneros, one of the most important religious and political figures of the 15th century, who became regent of Castile. This town has a medieval layout and preserves some remains of its wall, which is believed to have been built between the eighth and eleventh centuries.
⏱️ 54 minutes by car from Madrid city.
4. Talamanca de Jarama
Talamanca del Jarama holds some of the most important works of Romanesque architecture in the Community of Madrid. One of the most beautiful medieval villages near the capital of the region known as Campiña del Henares, on the border with Castilla-La Mancha.
Among its five monuments declared of cultural interest are the Romanesque apse of the parish church of San Juan Bautista (pictured above) and the Romanesque bridge over the Caz stream.
⏱️ A 52 min drive from Madrid city.
5. La Hiruela
Anchored in the heart of the Sierra del Rincón and listed as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve la Hiruela has the charm of the medieval stone villages of the Sierra. Its landscape of dark brown houses, made of local rock and wood, are the antithesis of the whitewashed walls of southern Spain.
The Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve is formed by a mountainous territory located between the Ayllón and Somosierra massifs. A green lung that includes the towns of La Hiruela, Horcajuelo de la Sierra, Montejo de la Sierra, Prádena del Rincón, La Puebla de la Sierra and Madarcos.
⏱️ A 1h 30 min drive from Madrid city.
6. Chinchón
Yes, the characteristic main square of Chinchón is medieval. Center and soul of the town, it is undeniable that this is one of the reasons why it is considered the one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.
Although it began to be built in the 15th century (the end of the Middle Ages) the chaotic effect of the irregularity in the layout and the variety of height of its buildings, in addition to the arcades, balconies and materials used, give it that aspect so typical of the Middle Ages.
⏱️ 56 minutes by car from Madrid city.