The 10 most wanted towns in Spain for a rural getaway
Lost in a Finnish forest without leaving Madrid
According to EscapadaRural.com, La Hiruela was in 2020 the fourth most sought after town in Spain, and the first in the Community of Madrid, among users of the platform to spend a few days in nature.
The environment in which it is located and its architectural identity are two of the attractions so that this village of about 60 inhabitants has become in recent months one of the fashionable destinations, especially for Madrilenians, to spend a weekend or go on a day trip.
But there is more.
We tell you
four reasons to visit this unique and picturesque town in
the north of the Community, 100 km from the capital.
1. The Location
Nestled in a privileged place
within the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve
, almost on the border with the province of Guadalajara, La Hiruela has an idyllic setting that is perfect for disconnecting from the stresses of the big city at any time of the year.
Multiple paths, between forests, streams and pastures, with the mountains in the background, leave the urban area to the delight of hikers.
Its extraordinary location also places it very close to must-see enclaves such as the walled Buitrago del Lozoya, the lush Hayedo de Montejo forests or the spectacular valleys of La Puebla.
To access La Hiruela, it is best to leave your car in the public car park located on the outskirts.
La Hiruela stone house.
2. The urban area
La Hiruela has its own architectural identity.
In its simple and charming town center, the low stone, slate, adobe and oak houses of the dehesa have hardly undergone changes in their structure since their construction, making it one of the best-preserved towns in the Community of Madrid. .
It is also located within the route of the black towns of the Sierra Norte (it is the best example of black architecture in Madrid): the two-storey houses blend in with the surroundings due to the dark color of the black slate on roofs and walls.
Walking along
El Pilón
street
, the most famous in the town, you will discover many of the charms of this mountain town, such as the
Town Hall
, the
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
,
the Old School
, today transformed into a bar, the
Casa del Cura
(restaurant) and the
House of the Teacher
.
Church of San Miguel Arcángel.
3. The ethnological heritage.
La Hiruela and its surroundings have several places of great cultural interest.
In the historic center is the
Ethnological Museum
, which shows the ancestral ways of life of its inhabitants with different farm implements, livestock and domestic tools and historical clothing.
It recreates an old rural house from the 17th century, accompanied by photographs of the time.
2 km outside the town is
La Carbonera
, the old place where oak charcoal was produced, one of the main engines of the local economy until the middle of the 20th century.
Today you can see a recreation of a coal bunker built in the traditional way.
A few meters away is the
traditional Colmenar
.
This place dedicated to beekeeping in the past, with 200 years old, today brings together more than a hundred "corks" (beehives built in hollow logs), divided into rows and streets that allow visitors to pass.
El Molino path along the course of the Jarama River.
On the banks of the Jarama River, surrounded by cherry trees and elder trees, in a recreational area, is the
Flour Mill
, whose first historical references date from the second half of the 18th century.
Thanks to its restoration, you can see what its original mechanisms and parts were.
Next to it, and climbing a small promontory, is
the Mirador del Molino
, with spectacular views of the environment.
4. The paths
The surroundings of La Hiruela are an ideal destination for lovers of hiking.
Four routes leave the
town
, perfectly marked by colors,
of different distances.
The yellow or the
Senda por las Eras y la Pila de Riego
is a path of 2.7 km (1 hour and a half in duration) of medium-low difficulty, which follows, between forests, viewpoints and the river, the paths through the that the cereal was transported.
The
Molino path
(blue), 5 km long and of medium difficulty, also follows the course of Jarama and, in addition to the Flour Mill, passes through the ruins of the Juan Bravo Mill and through a forest of centenary oaks.
The red route
Los Oficios de la Vida
(2.7 km) passes through fruit orchards and large meadows, as well as the enclaves of Carbonera and the traditional Colmenar.
The
Fuente Lugar
green path
(1.5 km) is a short route that passes through a natural tunnel next to the river bed full of lush forests of cherry, birch and hazelnut trees.
Orchards with apple trees, blackberries and centenary pear trees are also crossed.
Wooden bridge in La Hiruela.
WHERE TO SLEEP
Aldaba House
(Pilón, 51, La Hiruela. Tel .: 629 626 224).
In the heart of the town, in a stone house completely restored respecting the lines and materials of the traditional architecture of the Sierra Norte de Madrid, this establishment offers three totally independent apartments with a capacity of 2-4 beds each.
From their balconies there are exceptional views of the old Dehesa de Robles de La Hiruela.
It also has a restaurant with traditional cuisine.
WHERE TO EAT
The only place to eat something (rations, sandwiches and weekend menus) in town is
La Hiruela Bar-Restaurant
(Calle Enmedio, 2, La Hiruela. Tel .: 918 441 580), which has a pleasant terrace.
Outside the town,
El Hayedo
(Montejo de la Sierra. Tel .: 918 697 023) offers traditional menus in which the beans from the Sierra and the meats, vegetables and vegetables from the garden stand out.
In
Monte del Tejo
(Pozo, 23, Montejo de la Sierra. Tel .: 616 68 83 55) they have good homemade rations.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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