Becerril de la Sierra

Becerril de la Sierra lies 50 kilometres from Madrid, in the heart of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. Surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the Community of Madrid, the town enjoys a distinctive mountain climate and remarkable natural richness.

History

The history of Becerril de la Sierra is marked by the scarcity of documentary sources, as many primary records—such as the Municipal Archive—have disappeared. As a result, what is known of its past is framed within the wider history of El Real de Manzanares.

Despite the lack of precise data on its foundation, historians place the origin of the settlement during the Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, in the 12th and 13th centuries, specifically during the campaigns of King Alfonso.
The first documented reference dates to 1385, when a mayorazgo (entail) was established over El Real de Manzanares; among the towns listed under its jurisdiction was Becerril de la Sierra.

In 1636, Becerril was granted the status of villa (town), a title confirmed in 1658 by Rodrigo de Mendoza y Sandoval, 7th Duke of the Infantado, Marquis of Santillana and Count of El Real de Manzanares.

Early population records show a community dedicated mainly to agriculture, shepherding and livestock farming. A later census—the Census of Castile (1594)—records 69 households, with an estimated population of 276 inhabitants.

Following the discovery of America, the town experienced emigration, though many residents remained, working the land despite the harsh climate. Others transported stone, charcoal and firewood to Madrid, while pastoral activities—especially cattle, sheep and goats—were also significant. Smaller groups worked as labourers, stonemasons, charcoal burners, weavers, masons, a surgeon, a schoolteacher and a sacristan.

A particularly difficult period came in 1841, when confiscation and expropriation laws affected the town, deepening poverty and isolation across the region. By contrast, during the Spanish Civil War (1936), Becerril suffered less direct damage and became a place of refuge for residents of nearby towns heavily affected by bombing.

Today, Becerril de la Sierra is a developed, welcoming municipality of great natural and artistic beauty. Tourism has become an important source of income, and in summer and at weekends the population can rise to around 18,000 people. 

Culture

Becerril de la Sierra offers a rich blend of cultural and architectural heritage. Religious architecture—with two churches—and civil heritage—such as Plaza de la Constitución and several historic fountains—coexist harmoniously, reflecting the town’s history and traditions.

Town Hall

Located in Plaza de la Constitución, the Town Hall is a three-storey arcaded building topped with a slate roof and clock.

Parish Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle

Avenida José Antonio, 47

Built in stone between the late 16th and early 17th centuries, this rural Baroque church shows Herrerian influences. It has a rectangular nave with slight irregularities, a three-tier tower separated by cornices, and a portico supported by Tuscan columns.

The side atrium—added, according to some authors, in the late 18th century—is one of its most valuable features. After the Civil War, the church underwent major restoration, with further works in the late 1960s and in 1995.

Ethnographic Museum

Avenida Calvo Sotelo, nº 13.

Opened in 2012, this small museum displays photographs, tools and household items used in the town over the last two centuries. It is not permanently open but can be visited virtually via video.

Fuente de la bola

Stone fountain with twin spouts, topped by a stone sphere, in Plaza del Espejo.

Fuente de los Cielos

Built in 1955, with an oval basin and central vertical element, in Plaza Fuente de los Cielos.

Fuente del Caño

Circular granite fountain with two spouts, built in 1889 and rebuilt in 1982, near the Town Hall.

Church of Our Lady of the Valley

Built in the late 1960s, this modern church was designed to blend seamlessly with its surroundings. Its triangular forms and inclined walls symbolise the mountains and fields of Becerril.

Location: Paseo de la Ermita, 70 (M-623 road).

Festivals and traditions

Becerril de la Sierra maintains a lively festive calendar combining religious and popular celebrations, open to all ages.

• Saint Sebastian (20 January) – Cencerrada, bonfire and hot chocolate with churros.
  
• May Cross Pilgrimage (1 May) – Pilgrimage to Raso de los Enebros, followed by dancing, music and children’s activities.
• Saint Roch Festival (16 August) – The main patronal festivities, with religious events, sports competitions, cultural activities, live music, parades, folklore and the traditional lemonade.
• Holy Christ of Good Counsel (mid-September) – One of the most popular festivals, featuring mass and procession, bullfighting events, concerts, sports competitions (including the Corre Becerril race), fireworks, a large communal paella, literary contests and the election of festival queens.
• Saint Andrew (30 November) – Coincides with Seniors’ Day, with mass, cultural events and a communal meal.

Nature

Becerril’s location in the Sierra de Guadarrama makes it an ideal habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species. The municipal area is framed by Puerto de Navacerrada, La Maliciosa, and the hills of Alto del Hilo and Cabeza Mediana, giving the town its characteristic mountain climate.

Granite formations, water, valleys, dehesas and livestock create a landscape of exceptional value, worthy of enjoyment, observation—and conservation. The municipality offers rural accommodation for visitors.

Cerro del Hilo viewpoint

Easily accessible on foot from the Navacerrada Reservoir dam or via a track from km 55.5 of the M-617 road, this viewpoint offers outstanding panoramic views of the National Park. Binoculars are recommended.
Highlights include:

• North: Valle de la Barranca, Alto de las Guarramillas (Bola del Mundo), La Maliciosa
• South: Cabeza Mediana and the Sierra de Hoyo
• East: Cuerda de los Porrones, Cabeza Illescas, Cerro de San Pedro
• West: Cerro de las Cabezas, Navacerrada Reservoir, Sierra del Castillo, Jarahonda hills and the Alto del León–La Peñota alignment

Alto del Hilo Recreational Area

Equipped with tables, benches and litter bins, this area is home to pine trees, numerous bird species and some reptiles. Nearby lies the Navacerrada Reservoir, and the views across the Sierra de Guadarrama are superb.