Guadalix de la Sierra

Guadalix de la Sierra is located 56 kilometres from Madrid.

The municipal area of Guadalix de la Sierra is located in the north of the Community of Madrid, on the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama and surrounded by small mountain formations. The highest elevation corresponds to San Pedro Peak, with a height of 1,420 m, located in the south of the municipality. It covers an area of 61 km².

History

The name Guadalix de la Sierra comes from the river that flows through the municipality. Its origin is Arabic and means “the river of the alders,” due to the abundance of these trees that once grew along its banks.

Although the origin of the town’s name suggests the possibility of an Arab settlement, archaeological evidence allows us to go much further back in time and confirm that the fertile plain irrigated by the Guadalix River was inhabited many centuries earlier. This is demonstrated by the existence of a cave, now hidden beneath the waters of the reservoir, known as Los Alcores, where remains of human presence dating back 25,000 years have been found. Various stone tools were discovered there, considered to be among the oldest worked-stone remains in the Community of Madrid.

Human presence in the area around the plain continued throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages, with even Celtiberian remains having been found.

Time went by, and when the Visigoths entered the peninsula they passed through this area and appear to have built a monastery on the northern slope of San Pedro Hill, dedicated to San Felices or San Pedro Saelices. This plain was its main source of supplies. With the later arrival of the Muslims, the monastery must have been abandoned. No remains of it have been found to this day.

The Muslims spread throughout the foothills of the Central System, taking advantage of the abundance and excellent quality of the pastures for their sheep flocks. It must have been these shepherds who, in order to protect themselves from the weather, built the first huts that, over the years, would form the village of Guadalix.

With the arrival of the Reconquest, people from Segovia began to occupy these lands. The new Christian settlers mixed with the former Arab inhabitants who had not been expelled. From the very beginning, disputes arose over control of the territory between the newcomers from Segovia and their neighbours from Madrid, until King Alfonso X “the Wise” decided to put an end to these conflicts by taking the territory for himself and creating the so-called Real del Manzanares. This area included Manzanares as well as the towns of Colmenar Viejo, Galapagar and their dependent villages, among which was Guadalix. In recognition of the services rendered by Don Pedro González de Mendoza to King Henry II, his son, John I, granted him the village of Guadalix in 1383. As early as those times, the wool trade was the main source of livelihood for the inhabitants of Guadalix.

During the transition from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern period, there was a particularly rich cultural period, especially in architecture, and it was then that construction began on the parish church of Guadalix, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. In 1523 Guadalix was granted the title of “Villa,” which was reason enough to raise the parish walls higher, although a lack of funds prevented the completion of the building plan. Here you can see the Charter Granting the Privilege of Villa.

In the 16th century, after the donation in favour of Don Íñigo López de Mendoza, Count of the Real de Manzanares and of all these lands linked to the House, they later passed to Don Pedro Hurtado de Mendoza. On Don Pedro’s death, his domains were divided and, after a long and complex legal dispute over inheritance rights among his heirs, ownership of the Real de Manzanares passed to one of his sons.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the population of Guadalix continued to rely mainly on the export of wool to nearby towns such as Buitrago and Guadalajara.

For centuries, the men of Guadalix depended mainly on transhumant shepherding and livestock farming for their livelihood, although they did not forget agriculture. The entire plain of the Guadalix River was devoted to the cultivation of potatoes. The particular climate of the Guadalix valley, with higher winter temperatures than the rest of the region, also allowed local farmers to grow delicious onions highly appreciated in the surrounding towns and in the capital. For this reason, the people of Guadalix were known by others as “los cebolleros” (the onion sellers).

Just as Guadalix was known for its fruit and vegetable produce, it was also renowned for the quality and quantity of limestone found in the area. For centuries, stone from the Guadalix quarries—such as La Horca, El Pilancón, Los Lanchares, Los Alcores and Dehesa Parda—was used not only for building crosses or constructing local buildings, but also in Madrid to pave Puerta del Sol and build numerous fountains. The reign of Charles III, in the mid-18th century, was the period when the greatest quantity of stone was extracted and sent to the capital to remodel the city in line with the monarch’s desire to modernise and improve it, which significantly boosted limestone quarrying in Guadalix.

After the Napoleonic invasions and the political and social upheavals that continued almost until 1830, Madrid had to begin a new phase of reconstruction. This meant that the limestone quarried in Guadalix was in even greater demand as a building material. Later, as Madrid expanded with the 19th-century extensions, the demand for stone continued to grow, especially after the construction of the railway in Colmenar Viejo in 1911, which made transport much easier.

In the second half of the 20th century, Guadalix experienced spectacular growth. Most of its inhabitants turned to the booming construction sector, abandoning the agricultural and livestock activities that had traditionally occupied the majority of the population. The number of inhabitants rose considerably, reaching 6,000 in 2010—a figure that continues to grow today.

Culture

Guadalix de la Sierra offers us a cultural past full of history and tradition.

Town Hall

The construction of the Town Hall began around 1930 using limestone masonry, extracted and shaped in nearby quarries. It occupies the site of the old Town Hall, which featured a colonnaded porch and wooden galleries.

The facade of the Town Hall has a large balcony, with a railing running across the entire front of the building. This balcony became famous thanks to Pepe Isbert, who, in the famous movie Bienvenido Mister Marshall (1952), delivered his well-known and remembered speech from it, starting with the famous phrase “…As your Mayor, I owe you an explanation,…”.

Also famous from this film is the clock that once crowned the Town Hall. After the building was renovated in 1986, the clock was preserved, although its location was modified, but it still crowns the building, and its original machinery can be seen exposed inside the Town Hall.

The square where this building stands was also remodeled in 1990, becoming a pedestrian-only space for civic activities. Until 1974, this square hosted bull runs and bullfights, which have a deep tradition in the municipality. The square was enclosed with carts and wooden barriers, and improvised wooden stands were built from where the spectators could watch the events.

Chapel

The elders of the town recall that in earlier times, there were five chapels spread across different areas of the Guadalix de la Sierra municipality: San Sebastián, located in “La Mata,” which has a citation in a regular visit made by the ecclesiastical visitor, recording a decree for the ordinary mayors of the town to repair the roof that had collapsed (1707); San Roque, in “La Rotura”; San Pedro, on the hill of its name; Santa Ana, in “Verdugal”; and finally, the chapel of Nuestra Señora la Virgen del Espinar, the patroness of the town. This chapel has had different locations in more recent times, the most remembered and traditional being the one located on land covered by the reservoir, now disappeared, but which stood for a long time amidst the waters that submerged it.

Later, another chapel was built in the area known as “La Cabeza,” designed by architect M. Fissac. However, it didn’t gain the devotion of the faithful due to its location. As a result, a new chapel was built at the current site, very close to the area previously occupied by the reservoir. Since then, the Virgen del Espinar has had her residence, which, we hope, will be her final one. She is only taken out on two important dates: during Holy Week for the “Procesión del Encuentro” and for her Patronal Feast Day celebrations in September. After these festivities, she is returned to her chapel, celebrated with a traditional pilgrimage.

San Juan Bautista Parish Church

This church was built in several stages, with the oldest part being the tower. This tower was built by Campero, father and son, in the first third of the 16th century. Documentation exists from 1529 confirming that it was completed by that date, when Juan Campero, the son, went to Alcalá de Henares to request the pricing of the tower built by both artists. Around 1540, the original temple was demolished, and a three-nave structure with ribbed vaults was projected. However, due to financial constraints, only the head of the church was constructed. Later, a single nave with lunettes was built, connecting the old tower with the new head.

During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the building was used as a barracks and later as a garage, leaving it in a poor state after being looted and set on fire. The tithe storage building next to the church was also destroyed and reduced to a corral. In 1944, architect Alberto Acha, under the Regiones Devastadas program, designed a reconstruction project, preserving the nave, demolishing later additions, and reusing the masonry. The choir was repaired, and new floor coverings were laid.

The church now serves as a testament to the historical and architectural richness of the area.

Festivals and Traditions

Guadalix de la Sierra is home to many deeply-rooted and traditional celebrations. The authorities and locals dedicate themselves to organizing these festivities, ensuring they remain memorable for the entire population and the thousands of visitors.

• Day of the Tortilla: The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is celebrated with the local “Day of the Tortilla,” where the townsfolk head to the countryside to enjoy exquisite potato tortillas. As night falls, the carnival begins, with locals dressing up to say goodbye to Don Carnal and prepare for the arrival of Doña Cuaresma.
• May Day Festival: In accordance with tradition, the young men of the town used to head out early on May 1st to cut the tallest and straightest tree in the surrounding area. After cutting it down, the tree was brought to the village on their shoulders. In the town square, the tree was cleaned and adorned with ribbons, flowers, and other decorations. After planting the tree, the young men would serenade the young women.
• San Isidro Festival: On May 15th, the town celebrates the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro Labrador. In honor of him, locals take to the streets with their tractors and horses to accompany the saint in a procession.
• San Juan Bautista Festival: On June 24th, a procession is held in honor of the town’s patron saint, San Juan Bautista, during which people renew their baptismal vows.
• Patronal Festivals in honor of Nuestra Señora del Espinar: Held from September 7th to 12th, these festivals offer music, dancing, bullfights, sports, and religious ceremonies for both locals and visitors to join in the celebrations.

Naturaleza

The landscape and natural resources of Guadalix de la Sierra are intertwined with its geology and hydrology.

Geology

Much of the municipality’s land is composed of an East-West limestone belt, which allowed for the extraction of blocks for the stone industry. In terms of tectonics, the region’s importance is highlighted by the syncline valley where the town is situated. The town is surrounded by small elevations like Mesa Hill, Cabeza Hill, and the Calerizas to the north, and the Pico de San Pedro and Montecillo to the south.
Several caves, formed due to atmospheric erosion, can also be found in the area, such as the “Cueva de los Lobos” in the Cerro de La Mesa, and the “Cueva de Los Alcores” near the Albalá stream, known for its prehistoric remnants and well-preserved stalactites and stalagmites.

Hydrology

Guadalix de la Sierra lies within the Tagus River Basin, with its main watercourse, the Guadalix River, running through it from east to west. It connects with streams from Miraflores and flows into the Pedrezuela Reservoir, which was completed in 1967.
The area also boasts seasonal streams such as Arroyo Endrinal, Arroyo Sequillo, and Arroyo de Valdemoro, contributing to the municipality’s natural beauty.
The town has several historic springs and man-made wells, such as Fuente del Espinar, Fuente la Mora, and Manantial del Pilancón, whose waters were historically used for irrigation and to supply the village.