Manzanares el Real, Medieval castle town in Community of Madrid, Spain
Manzanares el Real is a town in the mountains near Madrid, located at the foot of the granite peaks of La Pedriza with views of the Santillana Reservoir. The settlement combines a medieval center with newer neighborhoods and sits surrounded by mountain terrain with hiking trails nearby.
The New Castle of Manzanares el Real was built starting in 1475 and remains one of Spain's finest examples of medieval military architecture. The fortress was controlled by the Mendoza family, who shaped the region for generations.
The Museum of Ethnology displays objects and reconstructed traditional homes that show how people lived in this mountain region long ago. The exhibits reveal the crafts and daily routines of past generations who made their home here.
The town is reached by three bus lines from Madrid's Plaza de Castilla, making it easy to arrive as a visitor. Connections also run to nearby towns if you want to explore the surrounding region further.
The Cuenca Alta del Manzanares, the region around the area, was recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993 for its granite formations and wildlife. This protected status reflects the ecological importance of the mountain and river landscapes found here.
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