Tourism Web Page of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Natural Area

Flora

Virtual Walks through the Natural Surroundings

Symbolic Map of the Natural Surroundings

San Lorenzo de El Escorial is located in the northwest regions of the Madrid Autonomus Community, on the southeastern slope of the Sierra of Guadarrama.

These surroundings of outstanding beauty were chosen by King Felipe II to construct the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, fulfilling the wishes of his father Carlos V of constructing a Panteón Real (Royal Mausoleum) that, in his time, represented his empire’s spirit and the grandeur of the Austrian dynasty.

The existence of water, good granite rock and pine forests in the surrounding areas provided the basic elements for the construction of such a splendid monument, so the monarch began the process of acquiring the lands that were used for it, along with the maintenance of the Monastery and of the Hieronymite community that in his time managed it.

These lands, including areas like La Herrería, La Fresneda, Campillo and Monastery (current Valle de los Caidos and lands towards Collado-Villaba) and the Dehesa Boyal (from Monte de la Jurisdicción to Abantos) of the original district of El Escorial shaped the privileged surroundings that combine its traditional agro-silvo-pastoral dedication with other leisure and recreational activities (walks, hunting, horseback riding, etc.) carried out by the successive monarchs that lived there.

All these incorporations shaped an entire area that although it has evolved with time, it has been able to maintain the singular idiosyncrasy of its natural characteristics.

Because of its singularity, a visit to San Lorenzo de El Escorial should not be done without having enjoyed the marvels that nature hides in places as unique as La Herrería and the Abantos Pine Forest. Its natural worth and its exceptional character caused the Abantos Pine Forest to be declared in 1961 a Picturesque Place and La Herrería to be declared a Forest of Special Ecological Interest in 1995; which guarantee their protection and preservation for future generations.

Likewise, they deserve to be contemplated and taken in by the shadows of the magnificent arboreal specimens that can be found in plazas and yards of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

These areas are all accessible to the visitor and without doubt will make his visit a memorable encounter between his person and nature.