Are you planning a trip to Madrid in the near future and need some ideas with regard to what to see and do while you are in town? Are you a fan of natural landscapes? The city of Madrid, Spain offers a wealth of interesting sights and attractions to visit. From world-class museums and galleries, to family-friendly theme parks to hundreds of authentic restaurants and lively bars, there is never a shortage of things to do when visiting this fine city. This can make for a very busy tour schedule during your trip. However, if you need a short escape from the hustle and bustle of the city center, there is no better place to relax and recharge your batteries than the Sierra de Guadarrama; a mountain range located just a short drive or train ride from the Spanish capital. In the following article we have provided a brief overview of the Sierra de Guadarrama, including some information on its characteristics, plant and animal life and various places of interest.
Sierra de Guadarrama: Overview
The Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range forms the primary eastern section of the Sistema Central, the system of mountain ranges located at the center of the Iberian Peninsula. The mountains that make up this range are situated between the Sierra de Gredos, in the province of Avila, and the Sierra de Ayllon, in the province of Guadalajara. Sierra de Guadarrama stretches from the southwest to the northeast, extending into the provinces of Avila and Segovia to the north and the province of Madrid to the south. In total, the chain measures roughly 80 kilometers (49 miles) across, with its highest peak, Peñalara, reaching a height of 2,428 meters (7,965 feet) above sea level.
Flora and fauna abound in the Sierra de Guadarrama, with vegetation that is characterized by an abundance of aromatic pine forests and copses of oak and Holm oak on the lower slopes, and grasslands filled with junipers and Spanish Broom shrubs around the summits. Sharing this picturesque land is a variety of wildlife species, including roe and fallow deer, wild boar, Spanish ibex, badger, European wild cat, hare, fox and various types of weasel. Many species of bird life can also be seen throughout the range, including birds of prey such as the Spanish Imperial Eagle and the Eurasian Black Vulture.
Due to its proximity to the ever-growing city of Madrid, the Sierra de Guadarrama regularly plays host to hikers, mountain climbers and tourists seeking a more serene environment. Two of the most oft visited areas of the range are the Parque Natural de Peñalara (Peñalara Natural Park), a nature preserve featuring lakes and other attractions; and La Pedriza, a unique and unusual mountain formation located on the south slope of the Cuerda Larga, in the municipal area of Manzanares el Real (part of the province of Madrid) and inside the Parque Regional (Regional Park) de la Cuenca Alta del Manzanares.
Other popular locales include the Valle (Valley) de la Fuenfria, an eastern valley characterized by pine forests and located near the town of Cercedilla, in the Community of Madrid; and Valle de Valsain, boasting the best pine forest in the Sierra de Guadarrama and located between the mountains, Mujer Muerta and the bulk of Peñalara, the range’s highest peak.
The Sierra de Guadarrama sustains a highly developed infrastructure for tourism and mountain sports, particularly rock climbing and skiing, and because the range is crisscrossed by a number of mountain passes and railway routes, it is easy for locals and tourists to escape the noise and pollution of Madrid via car or train. This proximity to Madrid, while definitely wonderful for the people who enjoy visiting, can often lead to crowded conditions at certain times of the year. This worries local environmentalists in the region, who fear the rising number of visitors may pose a threat to the fragile ecosystems of the mountains.
