Logbook · 4 places

What to see and do in Somosierra

What to see and do in Somosierra (Sierra Norte, Madrid): 4 places across monuments, nature, activities and curiosities, with a photo and a Google Maps location.

1 Villages · 1 Nature · 1 Curiosities · 1 Historical milestones

How far each place is from the centre of Somosierra

Battle of Somosierra 50 m

Towns near Somosierra

Spain › Community of Madrid › Sierra Norte › Somosierra

What to see and do in Somosierra

Somosierra
Village
Somosierra is the highest municipality in the Community of Madrid, at 1,433 metres above sea level, with barely 93 inhabitants, located on the mountain pass that gives it its name and that separates the two plateaus (mesetas), being the only case where both slopes of the sierra belong to the same municipality. Its life has developed from trade and services to travellers crossing this pass, strategic between the two Castiles, and it belonged to the province of Segovia until 1833. There, in 1808, the Battle of Somosierra was fought, between the Spanish troops and the French forces of Napoleon's Grande Armée, during the War of Independence, and its surroundings today offer the Dehesa Bonita and the Litueros waterfall.
The charge of the Polish lancers at Somosierra
Curiosity
On 30 November 1808 the 9,000 men and 16 guns of Benito de San Juan were holding the pass against Napoleon; the third squadron of Polish chevau-légers, some 150 horsemen under Kozietulski, took it by storm and left Madrid defenceless.
Dehesa Bonita of Somosierra
Nature
An Atlantic forest unusual at these latitudes, containing the largest centuries-old birch grove in the Community of Madrid alongside beeches, oaks, hollies, whitebeams and rowans, several of them listed as singular trees; from it falls the chorrera de los Litueros waterfall. It is the trade name of the dehesa boyal of Somosierra, situated at about 1400 metres above sea level, with cold winters and abundant precipitation that falls as snow in winter. Besides the livestock that gives it its character as a dehesa boyal, it is home to roe deer, wild boar, foxes and occasionally the Iberian wolf, along with birds of prey such as the goshawk, the little owl, the eagle owl and the griffon vulture. A 4.82-kilometre circular hiking trail, taking about three hours, crosses meadows and woodland to a viewpoint overlooking the forest.
Battle of Somosierra
Historical milestone
On 30 November 1808 Napoleon sent the Polish lancers of his guard down the pass road against the batteries of General Benito de San Juan. The charge, extremely costly in lives, broke the Spanish defence and left the road to Madrid open. Although San Juan had chosen an extremely strong defensive position, the battle proved an inevitable French victory given the overwhelming superiority in numbers, training and combat experience of the Grande Armée. As a result, Madrid was left completely undefended: Napoleon besieged the city and bombarded it, and it surrendered unconditionally on 1 December 1808.