Espinar, El

The documented history of El Espinar dates from the 11th century, even though the area has been inhabited since the Iron Age. In fact, in September 2016 was found the settlement of Canto Los Hierros in a nearby mountain located south of town, just at 1,700 metres above sea level. The settlement, dated back to the Iron Age and later reused and expanded by the Romans, covered about 70 hectares and included about 100 houses, few traces of walls and quite a lot of iron items. This kind of ancient settlement at such a high altitude is considered unique within Europe.

Before the arriving of the Romans, the area known today as the municipality of El Espinar probably was in the very eastern limit of the vettones territory.

During the rule of the Visigothic Kingdom, the area was not known as El Espinar, but as Gudillos, and then during the rule of Al-Andalus it received the name of Albarrana.

In 1293 received the foundation document called as Carta Puebla, which made the area independent from the city of Segovia and therefore received city rights. The Carta Puebla was renewed later in 1317 and in 1368, which allowed the municipality to increase its territory.

El Espinar played a crucial role during the Revolt of the Comuneros as a guerrilla warfare unit of nearly 2,000 men gathered by the leader rebel Juan Bravo moved to Segovia to support the rebels as the royalist armies had started to suffocate the comuneros rebellion.

During the 18th century, both the economy and the population boosted because of the sheep wool production and for the replacement of the farthest mountain pass of La Fuenfría by the nearest one of Guadarrama Pass as the safest, main mountain pass to travel between Madrid and the northwestern quadrant of the Iberian Peninsula.

In 1888, the railway between Madrid and Segovia was built, so the area experienced a boost as less time was needed to travel from El Espinar to both Madrid and Segovia.

In the early 20th century, El Espinar became more famous for people from Madrid as a place to spend summer holidays whilst keeping away from the hotter Madrid's summers.

From 1936 to 1939, the eastern limit of the council by the Guadarrama pass became a key frontline during the Spanish Civil War. Because of that reason, nowadays the area is famous for the several bunkers and becoming a popular destination for people who like to follow the traces of war. During the early 21st century, the town increased its population as people from Madrid moved to the area to live permanently there whilst working elsewhere in Madrid as commuters. Living there as remote online workers and moving only one day per week to Madrid city centre is also a growing fast trend.

Mercadillo semanal: Miércoles, de 08:00 a 14:00 · Calle Ramón y Cajal.

•Camino Natural de la Cañada Real Soriana Occidental

•Rafael Calvo Ortega, político y catedrático español

•Rodrigo Vázquez de Arce, político español

•Frutos Patón de Ayala, eclesiástico español

•Lázaro del Álamo, compositor y maestro de capilla español (1530-1570)

•Pablo de Laguna

•Alonso de Ortigosa de Tobar

Alcaldía: Francisco Eloy Jorge Gómez

Web oficial: http://www.elespinar.es/