Batres

Batres is very much connected with one of the most important writers in Spanish literature - Garcilaso de la Vega. The poet spent part of his childhood in the emblematic castle because his parents owned the lands of the town. Its old town has been declared Property of Cultural Interest.

Batres is about 44 km from the city of Madrid, on the Guadarrama River. Batres Castle is, without doubt, the main protagonist. It has a square floor plan and was built in the 15th century, with fired clay on flint foundations. It is peculiar because of the diamond shapes on the corners of the towers, which end in circular terraces at the top. The highest one, the keep, is 25 metres high. In the fortress there is a beautiful iron balcony, as well as an interior Renaissance courtyard with Plateresque galleries. In the castle there is also the so-called Garcilaso fountain, situated under a brick arch, framed by marble plaques with engraved verses. Other places of interest in the town include La Asunción Church, Chorro Fountain and El Hortelano House. Batres is next to the Guadarrama River Mid-Course Regional Park, which can be visited following various hiking trails and cattle tracks.