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El Yelmo

Manzanares el Real, Cuenca Alta del Manzanares, Madrid

1 Villages · 8 Monuments · 13 Nature · 4 Activities · 2 Curiosities · 2 Historical milestones · 3 Food and drink

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El Yelmo

Nature · Manzanares el Real, Cuenca Alta del Manzanares, Madrid

A huge slab of pink granite 1,717 metres high that, seen from the south, resembles a medieval helmet; it rises 150 metres above its southern base and its name already appears in the Libro de la montería of Alfonso XI, written around 1350. It was also called Peña del Diezmo, and it is reckoned that the monastery of El Escorial could be carved life-size inside it. The first known ascent was made by Casiano del Prado in 1864. Its south face, a great granite wall, holds historic routes of Madrid climbing, such as Los Higinios, opened in 1944, or La Vikinga and La Valkiria, laid out by the Los Vikingos group in 1966 and 1967. Climbing in La Pedriza calls for a special technique of friction, very different from the more athletic style of other areas.

Photo: Miguel303xm (CC BY 3.0)

What to see and do in Manzanares el Real