The best walks and hikes around Valverde De Alcalá

Loeches has been the residence of nobles and influential houses of the Spanish bourgeoisie for the last five hundred years. In the 16th century it was named a town by order of Charles I and in 1633 it became the domain of the Count-Duke of Olivares, favourite of Philip IV, providing the town with an important historical, cultural and monumental heritage also linked to the House of Alba. The Monastery of the Immaculate Conception, known as the “Convento Grande”, houses the Pantheon of the House of Alba, built in Carrara marble. In the same square is the Monastery of San Ignacio Mártir, the “Convento Chico”, a 17th-century Carmelite convent of Baroque architecture famous for the artisanal jams made by the nuns. A good example of a Renaissance construction is the 16th-century church of the Assumption. The Plaza de la Villa is the meeting point and social centre of Loeches. Surrounding it is the historic centre, declared a Site of Cultural Interest, with cobbled streets and traditional houses. The Tourist Office is located in the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception, which offers a guide service, tourist information and is the starting point for hiking routes.

The viewpoint is on the edge of the moor, above the slopes of oaks and holm oaks of the Val stream, and has beautiful views of the slopes of the valley and the white hamlet of Olmeda de las Fuentes.

The unique urban style of Nuevo Baztán maintains the original Baroque model from the beginning of the 18th century, designed by José de Churriguera by order of Juan de Goyeneche, who had permission from Charles II to build glass, paper and textile factories on Spanish territory. The Navarrese businessman was originally from Arizkun, in the Baztán Valley, but spent time in Madrid because he had other properties and professional relations with the Court. He chose the site of Madrid's Alcarria to found an industrial and rural centre in honour of his homeland and commissioned the Madrid architect to build a glass factory, a farming village of half a thousand inhabitants, a palace, a monumental church and gardens with centuries-old pines and elms. The town preserves cobbled streets, stone squares, rural buildings from the time of its foundation, between 1709 and 1713, and palace gardens, a beautiful heritage complex declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1941 and a Site of Cultural Interest in 2000.

This monastery, a historical-artistic jewel of Madrid's baroque, was founded in 1640 by the valid of King Philip IV, that is, the count-duke of Olivares. Its location in a country setting, on the outskirts of Alcobendas, north of Madrid, makes it even more special, with the Sierra de Guadarrama as a backdrop.

Fountain in the small park in front of the church.

The Monastery of the Immaculate Conception.

Without a doubt, the town of Loeches is the greatest historical-artistic jewel and the most emblematic building. It is a monastery of Dominican nuns and is located in the Plaza de la Duquesa de Alba, next to the Carmelite Convent of San Ignacio Mártir. The monastery was founded in 1626. The guided tour can be consulted by phone or e-mail. More info: https://monasterioloeches.org/visitas/

As the name of this viewpoint says... we can enjoy the bird's eye view, the surroundings of the entire Vega de Torres de la Alameda, its fields and olive trees and, if you are lucky and the day is clear, the entire skyline of Madrid .