El Villar Reservoir, embalse en el río Lozoya, península ibérica
El Villar is a reservoir in the northern part of the Community of Madrid, fed by the Lozoya River. The stone dam has a control tower at its center and overflow structures that manage the water level when rains are heavy.
The dam was completed in 1882 and was the tallest in Spain at that time. It was built to supply drinking water to Madrid as the city grew rapidly in the second half of the 1800s.
The reservoir sits in the Lozoya valley, surrounded by pine forests that shape the feel of the whole area. Locals and visitors use the paths around the water for weekend walks, making it a natural meeting point in a mostly rural part of Madrid.
The area is best reached by car, and parking is available nearby. From there, simple paths lead down to the water and are easy to walk without any special equipment.
A small hydroelectric plant was added next to the dam in 1994, using the stored water to generate electricity. This addition is barely visible from the main paths but means the structure still serves an active role beyond water storage.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
