Sheraton Santa Maria de El Paular - Rascafria - Proximities
Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de El Paular: Construction began in 1390, and was the first monastery of the Kingdom of Castile, remaining so for 450 years. Since 1954 it has been a Benedictine abbey. It is a jewel of undeniable value, with different architectural styles such as Gothic and Baroque. You can visit it.
Bridge of Forgiveness: It was built by monks to replace a previous wooden bridge and to facilitate access to the paper mill. The bridge overlooks the Monastery of El Paular and is so named because the accused could appeal their sentence for last time on this very same bridge and see their sentence commuted if the court deemed it just.
Arboretum Giner de los Ríos: A botanical gardens containing representations of deciduous forest trees and shrubs with over 200 species, separated according to areas of origin, Asia, Europe, North and South America.
Mountain resorts: Within the municipality of Rascafría are the ski resorts of Valcotos (only for cross-country skiing) and Valdesquí. Not far from there is Navacerrada resort.
Guard house of the mills: Dating from the nineteenth century and restored in 1985, it is located in the estate of the Batanes.
Casa de la Madera (House of Wood): From the eighteenth century, next to, but outside the precincts of the monastery. It was the mill of La Cartuja.
Summit Nature Park, Circus and Lakes of Peñalara: it is one of the most valuable places of the Community of Madrid. It contains the highest peak in the region and there are species of flora and fauna of great value.
Old Paper Mill de los Batanes: Situated along the river Lozoya. It was owned by the monastery.
Mills of Bartolo, Briescas and el Cubo: Old flour mills of the eighteenth and nineteenth century alongside Lozoya River and the Artiñuelo creek.
Puente de la Reina: From the eighteenth century, it connects the monastery to the old Casa de la Madera.
Las Presillas natural pools: A recreational area to which the natural flow of the Lozoya River has been diverted, by artificial dams, to create huge pools of mountain water ideal for swimming. It also has a large meadow and service area.
Las Cascadas del Purgatorio (Falls of Purgatory): A set of waterfalls located about 6.5 km from the Monastery of El Paular, two of which stand out for their large size. They belong to the Aguilón river, one of the most fast flowing tributaries of river Lozoya.