Rascafría, a fairytale location in the countryside

Rascafría could perfectly be the name of a fantasy land. A magical place in the Lozoya Valley, home for the adventurers and scenery of wondrous stories. It could be a land of the imagination, pictured in watercolor paintings. For those who have ventured there, Rascafría conforms the pages of a book whose pictures one simply cannot forget.

Once upon a time in Rascafría

Snowy mountains and trees in the front

Snowy mountains behind the trees of Rascafría. | Shutterstock

Once upon a time there was a land in the mountain range of Sierra de Guadarrama, with an altitude of more than 1000 yards, where nature always shone in a landscape framed by mountains. A land where, during the Middle Ages, some crews from Segovia were settled. Something similar happened in Oteruelo, which belongs to the same council. The history printed on those streets might be read by those who pay close attention to what the stones have to say.

Indeed, Rascafría has many things to tell us before we leave the village. We must let the fairytale flow, just like the river. It’d be nice to wonder through the streets, finding any little clue the village reveals. In Rascafría’s very heart, the square of the Trastámara still keeps the legacy of Isabel and Fernando, the Catholic Monarchs of Spain. The building of the city hall, dating back to the early 20th century, is also worth mentioning. Its facade exhibits a sight of colorful bricks which captures the Neo-Mudéjar architectural style. On the stone of its beautiful fountain, this square also guards the verses of some prestigious poets. If we listen closely, we might be able to hear the murmuring sound of the poems running through the water. Beyond that, the church of San Andrés is dressed in Gothic clothing.

The church of San Andrés. | Wikimedia Commons

Water is soon revealed as the perfect guide for traveling through Rascafría. Seeking the Artiñuelo, Lozoya’s second river, we’ll discover many hidden spots. The path reaches the bridge Manola, next to a bronze sculpture in honor of countryside women. Another way of crossing the river is by using the bridge of Pericotón, so old as to date back to the 14th century. If we follow the stream, our path will keep unveiling new secrets.

The “happily ever after”

A panoramic view of a valley and a village, the church standing out

The monastery of Paular. | Shutterstock

Step by step, the path leaves behind the center of Rascafría. We’ll see the old pylon that is used as a watering place, as well as the bridge of El Paular. In the street La Fuente, boulders cover the road, and the riverside grows, crossed by a canal. The countryside’s calm fills the air. This feeling can be perceived, for instance, in the park next to the river and the two little squares dotted with benches.

If Rascafría’s center makes you fall in love, its setting is like a true love’s first kiss. The water’s presence remains, meandering past every corner, even through the road to the monastery of Paular, which is skirted by oaks and pine trees. The Trastámara family supported the construction of the monastery in the 14th century, but it took a long time to build. This is the perfect spot for admiring the natural resources from the area. In the monastery we will find, among other things, a main altarpiece made of alabaster. There is also a collection of 52 works of Vicente Carducho, a court painter from the 17th century. To arrive there, one must cross the old bridge of Perdón, dating back to the 18th century. This bridge is a granite construction with three archways close to the Finnish Forest of Rascafría. The name Perdón —meaning “forgiveness”— comes from the fact that, in the past, they used this bridge to enact trials; there they condemned or forgave the accused. From this bridge, convicts walked either to exile or to the gallows.

A wooden bridge in a lake in a forest

The Finnish Forest of Rascafría. | Shutterstock

Trails and paths multiply in this area, each and all of them with the dreamiest outcomes. One of the most stunning spots in the national park is the Purgatory waterfall. This cascade is born from Aguilón’s creek, down a face of rock walls.  There’s also a natural lookout point which displays a breathtaking panoramic view of the Lozoya Valley. Here starts a path that goes all the way to the dam of Padillo, reaching a reservoir with calm, see-through waters: a mirror of the mountains.

A waterfall flowing on a rock face

The Purgatory waterfall. | Shutterstock

The forest clears out, green fields spreading on both sides of the Angostura creek. Further on, the natural path of the Lozoya Valley leads us to Oteruelo, a most charming village. Back again, in Rascafría we shall taste a nice wine from Madrid or, if it’s the right season for it, a dish of mushroom and meat. If the traveler wishes to, the fairytale might end up here. However, nothing’s written in Rascafría. The end of the story will always be a “happily ever after”.


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