| Culture
and Nature |
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Most
visitors to Madrid spend all
of their time within the limits
of the Metro’s Circular
Line - a shame when you consider
that, an hour out of the city,
lies one of the most important
nature areas in central Spain.
Love the outdoors but still
want a good dose of culture
and history on a cycling tour?
This trip combines the peace
and quiet of the Sierra de Guadarrama
with some of the area’s
most important monuments –
the monasteries of El Escorial
and Rascafría; the castle
of Manzanares el Real and the
medieval town of Buitrago de
Lozoya, with its city walls
and Picasso Museum. Combined
with Madrid’s sunny spring
and summer weather, and unbeatable
fall colours, this is a perfect
introduction to attractions
and charms that lie outside
Madrid’s city limits
Enjoy the memorable Spanish
food, appreciate the culture
and history of Spain, visit
some of the best paintings museums,
see wonderful palaces and historic
buildings and ride by beautiful
roads in a sunny place with
a bright blue sky all year around.
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Itinerary |
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Day
1 Madrid-Soto del Real (MADRID)
Guests
of Bike Spain Tours are
taken by van to the town
of Soto del Real. Once we
arrive at the hotel and
have had a chance to unpack,
we’ll have a welcome
drink, fit your bikes and
provide you with the road
book and maps for the tour.
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Día
2 Soto del Real-Buitrago
del Lozoya
50
kms. Some small hills. 300
mts ascent.
Passing through the town
of Torrelaguna (one of the
oldest settlements in the
area, with some interesting
Renaissance palaces and
churches), the route continues
through small villages and
hamlets on its way to Buitrago
de Lozoya. Nestled on the
banks of the Lozoya Reservoir,
the town is extremely popular
with Madrileños who
come for the restaurants
and to stroll through the
narrow streets and along
the battlements of its walls. |
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Día
3 Buitrago de Lozoya-Rascafría
35/50
km. Rolling terrain. 200
mts ascent.
Today’s route follows
the Lozoya Valley along
the southern flanks of the
Sierra de Guadarrama mountain
range to the town of Rascafría,
home of the El Paular Monastery,
founded in the fourteenth
century. The monastery’s
architecture reflects the
hodge-podge of cultures
which have invaded this
part of the country –
everything from Gothic to
Baroque. |
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Day
4 Rascafría-Escorial
48
km. One climbing. 700 mts
ascent, then a long downhill
ride.
We start the morning with
a leisurely climb to the
south face of the Guadarrama
mountains. From the Navacerrada
Pass (great for photo opportunities!)
there’s an amazing
ride down through some mountainside
villages to the town of
San Lorenzo del Escorial.
Built between 1563 and 1584,
the Monastery of El Escorial
was the biggest building
of the Renaissance period.
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Day
5 Escorial-Soto del Real
38 km. 150 mts. ascent.
From El Escorial, we travel
through some of the towns
on the southern slopes of
the mountains. As we approach
Soto, we’ll pass through
(and visit, if time permits)
the Castle of Manzanares
el Real – which, despite
appearances, is an authentic
fifteenth-century castle,
owned by the Duke of Santillana
and leased to the Madrid
region. For cyclists who’d
like a bit more time in
the saddle, there’s
the opportunity to head
into and explore the La
Pedriza Nature Reserve. |
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Day
6 Soto del Real - MADRID
43 Km. on slight downhill.
In 2005, motivated by the
needs of cyclists who wanted
to go to the Sierra but
who didn’t want to
have to use their cars,
the Madrid regional government
opened a 40 kilometre-long
bike path that links the
sierra with the city. We’ll
use it to return to the
city, savouring the expansive
views over the plains, and
be back in town by lunchtime
to give guests the chance
to explore more of Madrid
on their own. |
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Day
7 DEPARTURE
After breakfast, end of
the trip. |
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PRICE
2010:
760
€
Single
supplement: 160 €
DAYS/ NIGHTS:
7
d / 6 n
LEVEL:
Medium
2010
DATES (Monday):
March:
29
April: 5 and 26
May: 3 and 31
June: 28
Sept: 27
Oct: 18
INCLUDED:
Accommodation,
breakfast, luggage transfers,
van transfer Madrid-Soto,
welcome drink and some
special gifts.
NOT
INCLUDED:
Lunches and dinners.
OPTIONS:
- Bike rental 95 €
- Road bike from 95 €
- Travel insurance 20
€
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-
The natural park of Guadarrama.
- Buitrago’s surprising
Picasso Museum, a collection
of artwork shown by the
artist’s late barber,
Eugenio Arias.
- Views out onto the plains
of Castile and Madrid on
a sunny, clear day.
- The lofty, vast halls
of the Monastery of San
Lorenzo del Escorial.
- The scenic routes and
the best of Castilian cuisine
– hearty roasts, good
wine and fresh bread. |
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