Lozoya del Valle: A Mountain Village Where History and Nature Meet

Lozoya del Valle, a village 85 km from Madrid, offers a blend of natural beauty and historical heritage. The town hall, built in 1698, was donated by the third Marquis of the Contreras family and houses a 'rollo' monument. Nearby, a 16th-century convent, currently under restoration, was sold by the Suárez de la Concha family to Mariano Pastor, who, with support from Queen Isabel II, converted it into a girls' school run by 15 Franciscan Conceptionist nuns for seven years before becoming a private residence and later an inn. The village's Church of El Salvador, originally from the 16th century, showcases Gothic and Plateresque architecture, including a ribbed vault, a pulpit, a Plateresque portal linked to the Covarrubias school, and a Renaissance window. The church houses the venerated Virgin of Fuensanta, which is moved to a hermitage two kilometers away for the summer, returning at the end of the season. Visitors can explore the 'Fuente de los cuatro caños', a historic fountain, and enjoy routes along the Pinilla reservoir and the Sierra de Guadarrama. The town offers cultural and sports activities year-round, including hiking, cycling, and kayaking. An agroecological project by Anneleen and Jorge, called Ecos del Lozoya, allows visitors to pick their own berries. The town hall maintains a permanent exhibition of old photos, and this summer hosted two exhibitions: watercolors by Juan José Lebrero and oils by Manuel Campos.