As we have already told you on numerous occasions, this time of year is perfect to discover the natural landscapes that our country hides, which, fortunately, are numerous. For example, it may be the ideal time to enjoy some of the National Parks of Spain.
In Vuela Viajes we have told you about some of them (Tablas de Daimiel, Ordesa and Monte Perdido, Archipiélago de Cabrera, Monfragüe …), but we still have many others to show you, such as the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park , that extends through the provinces of Madrid and Segovia. Would you like to know more details about this beautiful natural area? Well then you can’t miss anything that we tell you below!
Location
As we have just mentioned, the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park is located in the provinces of Madrid and Segovia. Specifically, this mountain range is part of the Central System, which is a 600-kilometer-long mountain range that crosses the center of the Iberian Peninsula from east to west. The place was declared a National Park in June 2013 in order to protect some 30,000 hectares. It is the fourth largest national park.
Flora
What the government wanted when naming this place as a Natural Park was to protect the different ecosystems present in the mountains, some of them unique in the Iberian Peninsula, although it is true that the vast majority of the territory is occupied by peaks dominated by rocky outcrops, and through high pastures and thickets. Other natural systems that can be found in the Sierra de Guadarrama are pine forests, natural systems of periglacial and glacial origin, gall oaks and melojares or woody steppes. In total, the park is home to more than 1,000 natural species, of which 83 are endemic, in addition to the most unique geological phenomena, such as La Padriza del Manzanares, cirques, glacial lagoons and granite rocks.
Fauna
As it could not be otherwise, having such varied ecosystems , numerous species of animals could not be lacking in the area. The 148 species of birds stand out, most of them typical of the mountain peaks: alpine accentor, bluethroat, red rocker, black vulture, imperial eagle, black stork … In addition, it is possible to find 14 species of fish, 36 species of amphibians and reptiles , and 58 species of mammals, highlighting otters, goats and bats. Of course, we cannot forget the invertebrate fauna, also very present in the park.
Culture
Nor can we forget the most cultural and historical face of the Sierra de Guadarrama. And we are talking about a park that has served as a setting for movies, books and, of course, paintings. In fact, it is this place that appears in the royal portraits of Velázquez . As for the buildings that can be found here, the Monastery of El Escorial, the Palacio de la Granja, the Valley of the Fallen, the Castle of Manzanares and the Monastery of Santa María de El Paular stand out.
Activities
In addition to discovering the flora, fauna and culture of the Sierra de Guadarrama through the trails that you can find here, being able to enjoy ornithological, botanical, children’s or geological routes, you can also enjoy different sports activities, such as routes in cycling, rock climbing, winter ascents, sledding, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding …
Then we leave you with our gallery , where you will find more images of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. Do not miss it!
