2013 - HISTORIC SITE DECLARED AN ASSET OF CULTURAL INTEREST
The Plaza Mayor of Colmenar de Oreja, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, is a typical, harmonious Castilian square, with arcades supported by columns of local limestone and wooden balconies. Its construction, which took place between the 18th and 19th centuries, was long and costly, as it was an urban structure created with the intention of bridging the ravine that separated the old part of the town from the suburbs. This is why it sits above the Zacatín bridge, overcoming the difference in level. This complex work of engineering—a long gallery of more than 70 metres—took over a century to build.
In the past, Colmenar de Oreja belonged to the powerful Order of Santiago, and its legacy can be seen in the impressive Church of St. Mary the Great, built in the 13th century with the air of a fortress and a Latin cross floor plan. Inside, there’s a magnificent organ that is played in beautiful concerts organised throughout the year. But what will surely amaze you is a visit to the fabulous Ulpiano Checa Museum. Here you can discover this famous artist, born in this town, whose paintings hang in museums such as the Prado and the Thyssen.
Enjoying a good glass of D.O. Vinos de Madrid wine in the beautiful Castilian square of Colmenar de Oreja is such a treat that you cannot possibly miss out on. Colmenar is a land of wine, and here you’ll find a range of wineries that organise wine tastings as part of the Madrid Wine Routes programme. Many of them have beautiful restaurants set among the vats used to age the wonderful wine from this area. On their menus you’ll find typical excellent Castilian cuisine, cooked slowly, as good food should be.
- Join us in celebrating our most famous festivalss
- Holy Week
Jesus Christ Superstar performance between Friday of Sorrows and Palm Sunday.
- Patron saint festivities
First weekend of May Santísimo Cristo del Humilladero (Holy Christ of the Shrine)
Second weekend of September Our Lady of Solitude
- War of Independence 2 May Historical reproduction of the War of Independence
- Wine and Local Produce Fair Weekend after St. Isidore’s Day
- Noche en Blanco June
Dramatized Tours
- La Cuchara Route November
Wine Tourism Day
- Market of Nazareth, Live Nativity Scene, ‘Zambombada’ December
Wine Tourism Day
- Three Wise Men parade January
- Our cuisine
Wandering the streets of Colmenar de Oreja, you’ll find our famous wineries, bakeries and pastry shops. Of course, you’ll also find a broad range of cuisine. You can’t leave the town without trying our patatas chulas (fried potatoes with garlic and parsley) and las pozas (bread in which the middle is replaced by diced onion and tomato in a marinade). And if you’re still hungry, try our stews pisto vaquero or carne al desarreglo, or our roast goatling; and for dessert, our famous sheep’s cheese, pelotas de fraile and the typical limoncillo. Of course, everything is cooked with our oil and macerated with wine from Colmenar de Oreja of D.O. Madrid.
