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Even Google Maps has gotten dizzy getting here, but the M-130, which winds relentlessly through the

Sierra del Rincón

, could be the most beautiful road in the Community of Madrid.

The wheel wrap is joined by an autumn in the middle of the color festival and the feeling of being millions of light years from Madrid's Gran Vía.

Some of that there is.

Our destination, Sierra de la Puebla, in the north of the region, is

the furthest village from the capital

.

"It has its pros and cons," admits Mayor Aurelio Bravo.

"It is good because we can preserve our mountains and traditions in good conditions, and bad because nobody wants to come here. They say it is very far."

The numbers are not deceiving.

They are 110 kilometers away to the Villa and Corte, but also

113 works of art

neatly scattered among the dense oak grove that embraces the municipality.

It is the so-called

Valley of Dreams

.

Puebla's first big surprise.

On the road to The Valley of Dreams.MGH

This giant chair almost seven meters high is one of the most iconic pieces of this sculpture park born in the late 90s thanks to the impulse of the artist

Federico Eguía

. A project that continues to grow. "We are about to place 12 more pieces," explains the local painter and sculptor. Like the chair, anchored just ten years ago at

1,575 meters

and with views over the entire valley, the rest of the sculpture collection is out in the open, following a circular route of 1.3 kilometers that also passes through some of the landmarks. from the idyllic town.

Emblematic places such as the laundry, the Arab fountain or the hermitage, where the social networks of before were woven.

"The Valley of Dreams is better known outside of Madrid, perhaps because there are many other attractions in the community. But there is no similar corner, with so much work and so many artists (more than fifty) where you can

interact with the sculptures

in the middle of nature ", emphasizes Federico.

The hamlet nestled in the valley.MGH

The isolation of Puebla, in the most remote part of the Sierra Norte and encased in a thick mass of

oaks, ash trees, poplars and the

most important

alder forest

in the Community, makes it a unique environment, as well as Eden for hikers.

The village holds 95 percent of the territory cataloged by UNESCO as

Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve

.

Although for Federico, Puebla has always been protected because people lived by this overwhelming nature.

"It has never been depleted here."

The people of Madrid discovered this place during the perimeter closure of the region, when it received a "bestiality" from visitors, in the words of the mayor.

"Now there are a lot of people who want to buy or rent."

With a total of 74 neighbors, the few who come show it.

But tranquility seems to have returned to this postcard village where it smells of lavender and a fireplace.

Its

gneiss stone

houses

, close together so that the heat does not escape, leave a network of

narrow alleys

to discover.

The forge of Puebla de la Sierra.MGH

In one of them we find

the forge.

Built in 1570, today it works at full capacity thanks to Julián, a blacksmith and fencing teacher who this year decided to change the life of the capital for that of Puebla.

The young man forges foils, but in the past this has been a «fundamental workshop for making tools and farm implements», as the guide Ángeles Álvarez explains.

She puts us on the trail of other essentials.

One is the

Museum of drawing, graphic work and Japanese art

, Chillida in Puebla de la Sierra?

Affirmative (see recommendations).

Another is Federico's studio, full of artist's gear, which he generously teaches.

Federico Eguía in his study.MGH

Not to be missed either

The refuge

, in front of the Town Hall, ideal for having a snack and, incidentally, buying a pot of honey from one of the four local beekeepers.

It would be closer to the store of the

cooperative Los apisquillos

.

Nothing like an artisan goat's milk cheese, but if on top of it the herd grazes through these mountains ... That is indeed a work of art.

RECOMMENDATIONS

GASTRO.

Los apisquillos artisan cheese factory:


Ecological livestock cooperative with grazing school and production and sale of transhumant sheep cheeses and yogurts.



ART.

Museum of drawing, graphic work and

Japanese art: Small but unusual collection of works by artists such as Tàpies, Feito, Barceló and Antonio López, among others.

And pieces of Japanese art.


RURAL HOUSE

.

El Refugio Coworking: It has one of the two bars in town, as well as a workspace and 'chill out' with great views and rural rooms.



NATURE

.

Path through

centenary oak groves

.

A simple three-kilometer walk that runs through the dense oak grove along the Cuesta stream.

Suitable and recommended for families.

MORE INFO.

On the Puebla de la Sierra Tourism page: puebladelasierra.es

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