Just over an hour and a half by car from Madrid is one of the most unique places in the Community.

This is

El Potario, a small and remote forest

populated by birch, poplar and fir trees that, due to its similarity to the Nordic ones, has been renamed the Finnish Forest.

The snow that fell in the last week only confirms that entering it is like moving to any of the forest parks that dot the Scandinavian country.

The picture is completed by a beautiful lake (it is actually a Lozoya dam), with a jetty, and a small wooden hut with red windows that, in its day, was used as a sauna, both Finnish symbols, as they are these days the practically frozen waters of the river and the snow of the trees and trails.

Finnish Forest Pier Photo: @_viajan_dos

This natural wonder is located on the outskirts of Rascafría

, one of the municipalities most visited by Madrilenians at all times of the year.

Nestled in the Alto del Lozoya Valley, in the northwestern part of the Community of Madrid, in the Sierra de Guadarrama, in addition to the Finnish Forest, among its many claims are the Natural Pools of Las Presillas (in summer), the Peñalara Natural Park , which has the highest peak in the region and into which thousands of hikers enter, the Valdesquí slopes, the Community's reference winter station, and

the spectacular Paular Monastery

(entry: 7 euros; book visits at www.monasteriodeelpaular.com).

Paular Monastery from the Paper Road Photo: @marittadiary

How to get?

Precisely, 2 km south of the town, the imposing monument founded in 1390, ruled for more than 450 years by the Order of La Cartuja (since 1954 it has been a Benedictine abbey),

is the gateway to the Finnish Forest

.

To do this, you have to park your car in the Monaterio parking lot and then cross the photographed Puente del Perdón (the view of the Monastery is wonderful), a stone bridge dating from the mid-18th century.

On the left, and after crossing a fence, a path that runs parallel to the Lozoya River, inside the Finca de los Batanes, enters the lush forest of birch, poplar and fir.

On the left, we will find the aforementioned pier.

The path is called Camino de Papel, because it leads to an old Paper Mill or Molino de los Batanes, now in ruins, from where it is said that the first printed edition of

Don Quixote came out

.

Bridge of Forgiveness Photo: @marittadiary

Before reaching the Finnish Forest, there is another of the emblematic places of Rascafría that is a must:

the Giner de los Ríos Arboretum

.

It is a well-kept botanical garden, also on the banks of the Lozoya River and in the shadow of El Paular, which has more than 200 species of trees and shrubs from deciduous forests from all over the world.

These are separated according to the areas of origin: Asia, Europe, North America and South America.

After an excursion in nature, it is worth taking a walk through the town of Rascafría, with a great historical-artistic heritage.

Among the most prominent places are the Plaza de Trastámara, the City Hall building, in a neo-Mudejar style typical of the early 20th century, and the church of San Andrés Apóstol, from the 15th century.

Finnish Forest Photo: @marittadiary

Where to eat

The

Caldea

restaurant

(Av. Del Paular, 37, Rascafría. Telephone: 918 69 00 32) is an old restored barn that offers traditional home cooking.

Its specialties include sirloin, Iberian pork, suckling pig and roast suckling pig.

Also mushrooms, such as boletus, chanterelles, thistles, chanterelles and chanterelles.

La Abuela

(Calle de Abelardo Gallego, 10, Rascafría. Telephone: 918 69 24 89) is a rustic grill with benches and wooden beams of Castilian cuisine with lamb and suckling pig in the wood oven as claims.

Reservation is mandatory.

Finnish Forest Dam Photo: @_viajan_dos

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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