El Escorial combines historic buildings with walking routes that vary in length and difficulty. There are also scenic routes with a specific seasonal focus and places whose history dates back to the 13th century or the time of Felipe II. To plan your visit, it helps to first choose what interests you most: a short walking route, a longer trail, or the history of the buildings and places.
History in the buildings and townscape
The Iglesia de San Bernabé is in El Escorial. It was commissioned towards the end of Felipe II’s reign and declared a Bien de Interés Cultural in 1986. The Monasterio de Prestado is housed in a building that served as Felipe II’s home for almost a decade. Both places point to different chapters in El Escorial’s history.
The Casita del PrĂncipe also has a clear historical connection: Carlos III and Juan de Villanueva built it for Carlos IV, when he was Prince of Asturias. The grounds of the Casita cover 47 hectares. At La Granjilla, Felipe II had the Parque de La Fresneda laid out as a personal place for leisure and retreat. The Cerca HistĂłrica, in turn, is a dry-stone wall built by him.
Another perspective on the past leads to Navalquejigo. The settlement was founded in the 13th century; the village is abandoned and protected by its fortified church. The Casa Miñana now houses the Castilla exhibition centre. The historical themes thus range from buildings and walls to an abandoned village and its present-day use as an exhibition space.
Choose walking routes by length and scenery
The Ruta de la Rivera del Batán is a 4 km circular route with a low difficulty rating. It starts in El Escorial and leads close to the banks of the Batán stream in the Aulencia River valley. Peonies, daffodils and asphodels grow there in spring. Its comparatively short distance and spring blooms give this route a different character from the longer Ruta de los Miradores de El Escorial.
This second route is a 15 km circular route of moderate difficulty and leads as far as the Calzada Romana. The stated distance and difficulty make the difference between the two circular routes clear: the Rivera del Batán is the shorter, lower-rated option, while the Miradores route is longer and rated moderate. The difference between 4 and 15 km is a useful point of reference when planning your day.
The Ruta de las Canteras de Peralejo offers a distinct focus on the landscape. It leads to an active quarry in Peralejo, where visitors can observe the rock faces. Those who want to explore the landscape through its rock formations will find a different focus here from routes notable for their distance or spring flora.
Cycling route and getting around the area
The Ruta El Escorial a Villalba is suitable for cycling. It connects El Escorial with Las Zorreras-Navalquejigo station; the return journey is by train. This sets the cycling route apart from the circular routes: the described route ends at the station, and the train is the planned way back.
Another distinction is useful when finding your way between place names: the Iglesia de San BernabĂ© is in El Escorial. The town sightseeing route offered by RENFE CercanĂas visits important monuments in El Escorial and San Lorenzo de El Escorial and their surrounding areas. Cultural history, walking routes and cycling offer different ways to plan a stay; the specific route details help you weigh up activities by distance and theme.
Discover more destinations: Las Rozas De Madrid, La Hiruela, Robregordo, Serranillos del Valle, Nuevo Baztán, Pozuelo De Alarcón, Paracuellos De Jarama, Robledo De Chavela.
For the main travel overview: Madrid.
