History and tradition

Regional origins

The origins of human settlement in the Sierra de Guadarrama region date back to the Neolithic period, as evidenced by archaeological sites found in the area, particularly in Manzanares El Real.

These early inhabitants lived in caves and rocky shelters and were primarily engaged in pastoral activities. Some scholars suggest that they belonged to the Carpetani tribe, which explains the name by which this mountain range was known for many centuries: the Carpetanian Mountains (Montes Carpetanos).

There are also remains from later civilisations, including Roman, Visigothic and Muslim settlements. The name Guadarrama itself comes from Arabic — Uad-Er-Ramel, meaning “river of sands”.

It was during the Reconquest, from the 10th century onwards, that the region gained strategic importance and experienced significant economic development. Settlers from the northern plateau, mainly shepherds from Segovia, were drawn to these lands by their rich pastures and abundant water resources. As a frontier territory, the area was the subject of frequent disputes for more than three centuries between Madrid and Segovia, both seeking control over the region.

To resolve these conflicts, King Alfonso X “the Wise” created a territorial entity known as El Real de Manzanares, which included Manzanares El Real and 19 surrounding villages. However, when King Sancho IV came to the throne, he ceded the territory to Segovia.

Disputes continued until the 14th century, when King John I granted the lands to the Mendoza family as a feudal estate. This noble family retained control until the 16th century, when El Real de Manzanares was dissolved and most of its settlements were granted the status of independent towns.

The transfer of the royal court by Philip II from Valladolid to Madrid provided a major social and industrial boost to the region, strengthening its links with the capital.

Traditional trades and the landscape

Traditional occupations in the Sierra de Guadarrama have always been closely linked to the region’s natural resources: pastures, granite, forests and water. These activities have played a decisive role in shaping the mountain landscape.

The region is characterised by extensive forested areas of great socioeconomic and ecological importance. Over centuries, the natural vegetation of the Sierra has been managed and transformed by human activity in response to agricultural, livestock and forestry needs.

For many centuries, forest lands were used for timber extraction and charcoal production. Today, they are mainly devoted to livestock grazing and game management. Areas with intense pastoral activity evolved into grasslands, dehesas and high-mountain grazing grounds, with fewer trees, in contrast to denser forested zones dedicated to timber use.

From their earliest days, all villages had nearby areas reserved for agricultural activity: small vegetable gardens, flax fields, arable land and rye fields, providing food for both families and working animals. Only minimal traces of these traditional agricultural spaces remain today.

At the same time, the widespread presence of granite formations enabled the development of stonemasonry, primarily focused on granite quarrying. Evidence of this activity can still be found on the outskirts of almost every municipality in the region.

Finally, many traditional occupations were linked to water resources, such as the operation of snow pits (neveros), professional washerwomen, and grain mills. These trades were once widespread and remain an important part of the cultural memory of many villages in the Sierra de Guadarrama.