Why Navacerrada has become the fashionable town in Madrid, even in winter

As

, the Plaza del Dr. Gereda in Navacerrada will be packed with people this March 5 to participate in the usual

.

An event organized by the Navacerrada Classic association that has been taking place in the town in the mountains of Madrid for 23 years and that brings together between 60 and 100 cars (depending on the weather) that are over thirty years old.

Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., fans and curious people from all over the Community come to the famous municipality to admire

in perfect condition ranging from Ferraris, Mercedes and Jaguars to Citroën C15, 600, Minis...

The event is just one more small claim for the thousands of visitors who come every weekend to this charming mountain town, nestled on the southern slope of the Sierra de Guadarrama, in the heart of the National Park, which has managed to become fashionable at

year

Its privileged location between some of the highest and most emblematic mountains of the Central System and the reservoir of the same name, at the entrance to the Barranca Valley, its inexhaustible cultural agenda, gastronomy and the increase in the hotel offer, with the opening of exclusive restaurants and hotels, have turned

for a day trip... or more.

Known for being a refuge for thousands of people in summer fleeing the heat of the capital (the population goes from 3,500 to almost 16,000 in the summer months), Navacerrada, 52 km from Madrid, continually attracts not only lovers of nature and sports, but also fans of good gastronomy, culture, markets (every weekend there is one)... Skiers, mountaineers, hikers, hikers, families, antique dealers, book lovers Onlookers, and even elite athletes (the Gran Trail de Peñalara is celebrated in October) come together in this town that is experiencing an

unprecedented

"Many people come for the environment, one of the best in the Community, and for the gastronomy, mainly," says Mar Ocaña, Councilor for Tourism in the Navacerrada City Council.

The council is about to launch

, a program of free activities for all audiences focused, even more, on "diversifying tourism in the municipality at any time of the year."

The initiative, according to Ocaña, is expected to begin this March.

"In spring we are going to start with four environmental outings (one per month), around Navacerrada. They will be guided family excursions, activities...".

To participate it is necessary to register on the web.

More information here.

Concentration of vintage cars. Navacerrada Classic.

From markets to hiking tours

The activity is guaranteed in Navacerrada.

every Sunday ,

one of the most famous in the area.

On a wide esplanade at the entrance to the town, with beautiful views of the mountains, there are some 60 stalls with all kinds of objects, from restored furniture to paintings, toys, vinyl records, crockery, watches... This market coincides with others two: that of the

, which is held on the first and third Sunday of each month, and the

, with current and old publications, which takes place on the second and fourth Sunday of the month.

For those who prefer more

shopping , there is the "street of shops".

This is the tiny

, where a series of fashion, accessories and gift shops with a wide variety of products have been concentrated in the last year, attracting passers-by even on Sundays.

"Street commerce has increased a lot and new businesses have opened, places that were empty after the pandemic, have now filled up and offer quality products," according to Mar Ocaña.

Church of the Nativity of Our Lady

The walk is obligatory, especially before eating, either through the town or through the idyllic surroundings.

In the center of the town is the vibrant Plaza de los Ángeles, presided over by the stone building of the

which in turn communicates with the Plaza del Dr. Gereda.

Both stand out for the number of bars and restaurants that are always full of people.

From there comes the street of the Church that goes up to the

a temple from the 16th century, perfectly preserved, located at the top of the town (you can enter).

Navacerrada is one of the

in the Community of Madrid.

In addition to having very popular places such as La Maliciosa or La Bola del Mundo, other well-known routes of all levels leave from the municipality, such as the Salto del Agua, the Finger Trail or even the historic Schmidt Trail.

A quiet and easy route is that of the

, which is reached from the town along the Paseo de la Magdalena.

To the dam, surrounding the swamp along the shore, it takes half an hour.

Gastronomy

If the weather is good in winter, the terraces of the bars and restaurants in the center of Navacerrada are crowded on weekends.

Those who arrive at noon to eat any of the delicacies of the local gastronomy, headed by

, are relieved by skiers, mountaineers and hikers who go down to have a snack or have dinner

The offer is overwhelming and for all tastes, from traditional cuisine to the most avant-garde, from tapas bars to more exclusive establishments.

Among the latter,

stands out, in the Plaza del Dr. Gereda, a modern restaurant with minimalist decoration that opened its doors a year and a half ago by the young chef from Madrid Carlos Carande, trained in Zuberoa, and which presents imaginative cuisine of high quality. level based on traditional and local products.

Others to consider are

, a rustic house with a stone façade and wooden sloping ceiling that serves homemade food on its heated terraces;

, a space with a shop and gastro bar in Hacienda Los Robles;

, with its traditional recipes but with modern touches;

the lively

, with live concerts on Saturday nights, and, of course,

specializing in Huelva prawns, red meats and roasts, and also chocolate with croutons for snacks.

Others for tapas and very frequented by young people are

and

, with karaoke and live matches on TV.

And a very popular classic is

a little piece of Switzerland in Navacerrada.

Despite the huge hotel offer, it is recommended to book whenever you plan to go on a weekend and check the schedules if you go during the week, since many close Monday and Tuesday.

The commitment to tourism in the town is also demonstrated by

which has also grown in recent months.

According to the Councilor for Tourism, there are 391 hotel beds in Navacerrada.

was inaugurated in October

, an exclusive, sophisticated and elegant boutique hotel with a pool and garden that offers a gastronomic package in its Cedro restaurant, with a tasting menu.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more