In El Espinar, you can plan your trip around different themes: routes through the landscape, historic buildings and traditions connected with forestry. The routes vary in scenery and destination; churches, a manor house and festivals offer their own cultural and historical highlights.
Hiking Trails and Landscape
The Paseo de la Dehesa starts in El Espinar and passes through the Dehesa Chica, also known as Dehesa Boyal. There are grazing pastures with downy oaks and ash trees. The route runs through a bird protection area where the Spanish imperial eagle and the black stork are listed as endangered species. In this way, the trail combines pastureland with views of a designated protected area.
The Ruta del Arcipreste de Hita leads to the Peña del Arcipreste de Hita, a natural monument made up of large granite blocks with a viewpoint. The official hike along this route includes a stop at the RÃo Moros, where a passage from the Libro de buen amor is recounted. The Garganta del RÃo Moros route offers a different focus: it follows the river to the Embalse del Tejo, also known as Las Tabladillas. The La Panera recreation area lies within the municipality of El Espinar, beside the RÃo Moros.
El Espinar is one of the two municipalities that make up the Real Sitio de San Ildefonso-El Espinar Biosphere Reserve. The reserve's tracks and trails originated in their use by woodcutters and Gabarreros, and are now used by hikers and forest enthusiasts. This makes it possible to connect the forest landscape with the history of traditional forestry occupations.
Architectural History and Cultural Sites
The original church in El Espinar burned down in 1542–1543; its remains were reused in the construction of the Iglesia de San Eutropio. The church is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category. Pedro Liborna EchevarrÃa built its organ between 1709 and 1712; the instrument has more than 1,000 tin pipes. The ruins of the Convento de Santa Isabel stand in central El Espinar, next to the church.
The Palacio de los Marqueses de Perales was built in 1728 as a manor house and sheep-shearing building and is also classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural. Its construction brought two different functions together in one building. The Estación de El Espinar offers another glimpse of work in earlier times: built in 1904, the building now houses an exhibition of historic items from railway work; the objects on display may change.
The Ermita del Cristo del Caloco also has several historical associations. It stands on the remains of Romanesque buildings dating from the 11th and 12th centuries and served as a filming location for the 1955 film Marcelino pan y vino. A monument in El Espinar also commemorates the traditional craft of the Gabarreros.
Festivals and Practical Information
The Fiesta de los Gabarreros takes place every year on the second weekend of March in the municipality of El Espinar and has been recognized as a festival of regional tourist interest since 2003. Exhibitions, talks, commemorations, food competitions, colloquia and concerts explore the traditional forestry occupations. The programme may vary from year to year. The RomerÃa del Santo Cristo del Caloco includes a sung mass, an outdoor mass, music played on the dulzaina and tamboril, and the communal serving of garlic soup; the programme may vary.
The municipal Oficina de Turismo is located in the town centre, at Plaza de la Constitución. There, you can get personalized information about attractions and possible routes; the Oficina also organizes the guided “Presume de pueblo†tours. Groups can arrange a guided tour of the Iglesia de San Eutropio there on request. Check availability before you travel. If you are travelling for the Fiesta de los Gabarreros, check both the annual dates and the programme for that year's edition.
Discover more destinations: Los Angeles De San Rafael, Grajera, Cerezo De Abajo, Sauquillo de Cabezas, Carbonero El Mayor, Fuentepelayo, Las Navas De RiofrÃo, San Rafael.
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