El Espinar

El Espinar is a Spanish town council located 65 kilometres away from Madrid city centre, in the northern slope of the Sistema Central mountain range. It belongs to the province of Segovia and to the autonomous Community of Castile and León.

According to the 2023 census (INE), El Espinar has 9,814 inhabitants.

The town council has four urban districts or settlements that are physically separate from one another: El Espinar, San Rafael, La Estación de El Espinar and Los Ángeles de San Rafael. El Espinar, the oldest and the most populated one, gives the name to the entire local territory and has the town hall's headquarters.

History
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.

During the rule of the Visigothic Kingdom, the town 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 the town received the foundation document called as Carta Puebla, which made the town independent from the city of Segovia. 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 town experienced a boost as less time was needed to travel from El Espinar to both Madrid and Segovia.

In the early 20th century, the town became more and 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 more and more people from Madrid moved to the area to live permanently there whilst working elsewhere in Madrid as commuters.

Geography
El Espinar is in the far south of Segovia province. It's embedded by the mountains of the Sistema Central by the north, the east and the south, and only the west and the northwest are partially open to the lower lands of the high northern plateau.

The altitude from the entire local territory range from 2,197 metres at the peak of La Pinareja mountain to 1,050 metres above sea level by the Moros valley when leaving the local territory heading northwest, although the inhabited areas are located between 1,100 and 1,200 metres above sea level. From the top of the mountains located at the eastern limit of the local territory, the skyline of Madrid is easily seen during clear days. From the mountains located at the western and northern limits, there is a great view of the high northern plateau, whereas from those ones located at the southwest the Gredos mountains can be seen as well.

The three highest mountains are in the northeast: La Pinareja (2,197 m), Peña del Oso (2,196 m) and Montón de Trigo (2,161 m). All the other peaks in the local territory are below 2,000 m, such as Cueva Valiente (1,904 m) and Cabeza Líjar (1,824 m) in the south, La Peñota (1,945 m) in the east and Caloco (1,567 m) in the west.

Except for a small area in the far west that belongs to the Voltoya and to the Cofio bassin areas, most of the local territory of the entire council is located in the upper Moros valley, so the Moros river is a tributary of the Eresma, and then the Eresma is a tributary of the Duero. There are some beautiful natural swimming pools in the wild named as La Panera, just by the Moros river in the middle of the pine forest.

There are more than 180 drinkable water springs within the territory of the entire local council and surrounding local councils.

Climate
El Espinar has a mediterranean climate with strong continental influence because of its location in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, and it is also influenced by its high altitude. According to the Köppen climate classification is a Csb climate, therefore temperate with dry summers.

Summer is the driest season, as few thunderstorms by their convective cumulonimbus clouds bring rain showers during July and August; on the other hand, rain coming from not towering vertical clouds during summer almost never happen, but certainly the rest of the year.

Late autumn is the rainiest season, whereas mid-spring is sligthly less rainy. Late winter and is a little bit dry than autumn and spring months, but is not bone dry like summer. Wettest yearly average precipitation range from 700 to 1,000 mm, and driest ones range from 400 to 600 mm. Severe drought extending beyond summer months is not unheard of during driest years. Unlike in the surrounding lower lands, as mid-spring in El Espinar tend to be a little bit rainier and colder, the grass usually keeps green until late May during dry late springs and to late June or even early July when late springs are rainier than average. Then, from late September onwards, when summer drought is over, the grass tunrs green again.

Snowfall can happen from late November to mid-April, and heavy snowfalls with snow depth up to 40 centimetres or more in a row usually happen at least once every three or four years.

During mid-summer, average daily highs usually range from 27º C to 30º C, whereas average daily lows usually range from 12º C to 14º C. During heavy cold waves, low temperatures can drop to −15 °C; on the other hand, during heavy heat waves, high temperatures can reach 36 °C. For someone pretending to stay all night long elsewhere outdoor during the peak of summer, a long-sleeved sweatshirt should be required for 90% of nights.

Maximum highs being lower than 0º C (32º F) for an entire day, or even during two or three consecutive days could happen during heavy cold waves, but only if northern winds bring strong, persistent low clouds with any sunshine at noon. Some winters four or five days like that are expected, but many others winters it only happens one day or even any at all.

Fauna and flora
The flora resembles pretty much mediterranean, but some deciduous trees also cover some areas within the local territory of El Espinar. The southern and the eastern mountains are peculiarly wooded mainly by Pinus Sylvestris, whereas the northern and western areas are less wooded by oaks forming the so-called dehesa and by grasslands. The mountains above 1,900 metres are wooded by shrubland as winter there is harsh and long, whereas summer is short and dry, which prevents almost any type of big trees. On the other hand, below 1,200 metres, there are some Populus alba narrow forests following the many streams that irrigate the whole area.

Wildlife is represented by many animals, such as roe deer, wild boar, badger, weasel, fox, Spanish imperial eagle, Eurasian black vulture and Graellsia Isabellae. White stork and their nests are pretty common not only in the pine forest but also in the churches and other buildings. Some years when autumn and winter are warmer than average they don't fly south heading to Africa. The European cuckoos usually return every spring by mid-April, and they come back to Africa from late July to mid-August. Their beautiful song can be heard everywhere in the pine forest during the breading season.

There are not dangerous animals, except for the Lataste's viper, but they only bit humans if disturbed heavily. Some nomadic Iberian wolf small groups have been seen in recent years, especially in the western meadows of Campo Azálvaro, but they rarely approach the urban settlements as they avoid humans.

There is a facility and visitor centre to spot scavenger birds located besides the SG-500 secondary road heading towards Campo Azálvaro. The town is also famous for tourism focused on collect edible mushrooms, but the local law stated that anyone interested in it must pay for a permit fee.

Protected ecosystem
There are 1,082 hectares in the northeastern mountains that are inside the Guadarrama National Park, which make that 5,3% of the surface of the entire national park belong to the local council's territory. Such protected area is the southwesternmost boundary of the whole national park.

Some of the westernmost area by the landscapes of Campo Azálvaro is also covered by a special protection area for birds.

Roads
There are two toll motorways and two main roads which serve the local territory, just the motorways AP-6 and AP-61 and the main roads N-6 and N-603. The AP-6 is the motorway that link Madrid with the far northwest of Spain up to La Coruña by more than 500 kilometres, although its toll only applies between the Guadarrama tunnel and Adanero (about 35 kilometres). The AP-61 is the link between El Espinar and Segovia by 33 kilometres. The N-6 is the alternative route for the AP-6 to avoid the toll, and the same applies for the N-603 to avoid the AP-61 toll.

Train
The local council is served by the normal railway between Madrid and Segovia, not by the high speed one. The railway has three halts and one station within the local territory of El Espinar, therefore ordered from southeast to northwest there are the halts of Gudillos, San Rafael, the station of Estación de El Espinar and finally the halt of Los Ángeles de San Rafael. The town council and some railway enthusiasts societies have requested several times to include the railway across the town inside the commuter railway system of Madrid, but it has not been done yet. However, the railway works "de facto" as any other commuter railway of nearby Madrid region because the operating trains and the technical are the same.

The local council has not high-speed train stations. However, the three nearest ones are not so far away: Guiomar, Chamartín and Atocha.

Bus
There is an urban bus that connects the four districts of town by a loop trail, which is often referred to as "La Carrula". Thus, there is another bus route which links the town with both Segovia and the madrilenian interchange transport hub of Moncloa; they usually run as direct buses to the two cities, but sometimes do their way by stopping in all the towns located in between. This bus route is owned by the enterprise named Avanza. Being inside Moncloa interchange hub for someone who need to travel to El Espinar, it is required first to go to the food court area and find the Avanza stand, then to purchase the tickets either on-site or by the ticket machines, and then move to the big room designed in Spanish as "isla 1" with light blue colour and finally go to the docks number eight and nine. It usually last 45 minutes to go from Moncloa to El Espinar. On the other hand, going from the city of Segovia to El Espinar is also posible with Avanza through the Segovia's bus station, which is much smaller and less crowded than Moncloa interchange hub, so going from Segovia to El Espinar takes roughly 25 minutes.

Economy
El Espinar has been living for centuries by logging and by sheep wool industry, although since mid 20th century most people work in the service sector. Food and aluminium industries also has been playing an important role in the economy of El Espinar since late 20th century. There is an industrial state named Polígono Los Llanos that is located two kilometres west of El Espinar district, which is the largest established industrial area within the entire local council.

Sport
El Espinar is represented by teams in the major national sports, such as football, five-a-side football, basketball, handball, cycling, equestrian sports, and golf. But football is the most famous one as there are several teams based in the town, including female football teams as well. Hiking is also a popular, eco-friendly practice because there are so many hiking trails around. Since 1986, every year in July, the town held the Open Castilla y León international tennis tournament.

There is also a golf course that consist in nine holes, which is located heading west of town towards Campo Azálvaro. Sometimes, especially during the pre-season, the Atlético Madrid uses to gate together in the district of Los Ángeles de San Rafael, one of four districts of town. Apart from the natural swimming pool by the Moros river located in the middle of the pine forest near the district named Estación de El Espinar, there are also two outdoor swimming pools and one indoor swimming pool with gym and sauna facilities. The outdoor pool season usually last from late June to early September.

Architecture and urban planning
Every of the four districts of town has its own characteristics:

El Espinar
The ancient neighbourhood of the district contains houses which commonly are one or two floors, although some remodelled houses now are three floors. Other modern neighbourhoods that have been built in the 20th century are four floors high, but most of the modern neighbourhoods have semi-detached houses and individual houses with private gardens, especially in the eastern and southern areas of the district. The tallest building, which is also the main sight, is the San Eutropio church, with its 18 metres approximately. It's a late Gothic church with some traces of Renaissance style and was designed using the Latin cross plan. There is a lovely urban park named Parque Cipriano Geromini that is perfect for summertime shade because of the great trees.

San Rafael
The origin of this district dates back to 1790, when some houses were built besides the current crossroad between the N-6 and the N-603. However, the district gained popularity in late 19th century and early 20th century when people from the former ruling class coming from Madrid started to build independent houses with gardens, some of them following a Swiss traditional style, and many of these houses still can be found today in the southern neighbourhoods. In fact, the urban alpine vibe, the nature scenery and the climate are the reason that the settlement of San Rafael is often known as "The Spanish Switzerland". Over the years, the district expanded with some real state developments made by residential flat buildings with four floors, but still the most common type of houses are individual and semi-detached ones. The tallest building is the San Rafael church, with its approximately 12 metres altitude.

La Estación de El Espinar
This district was started after the normal railroad that links Segovia with Madrid was built, so, in 1888. It has mainly expanded in the eastern side of the railroad with individual houses, whereas semi-detached houses and flats are a tiny part, and there are no flats higher than two floors, so the population density is low. Even the church of San Antonio is really short, so there are neither main sights nor a proper skyline.

Los Ángeles de San Rafael
This district is the newest one, as started as late as in 1967 nearby the N-603 road, and then expanded westwards and downhill heading to the Moros river. There are three flat buildings with eight floors each, measuring roughly 28 metres, therefore being the tallest building not only in Los Ángeles de San Rafael district, but also in the entire local council of El Espinar. Is the largest district in terms of km2, but not the most populated one, and its western area is a great example of spaniard sprawl.

Celebrations and cultural events
Every of the four districts of the local council has some venues and festivities:

El Espinar

 * The local festivity (fiestas) of El Cristo del Caloco are the most famous ones by far, and are celebrated during eight days in early September starting the second weekend of September.


 * The second most famous ones are the fiestas held in mid-August. Usually are celebrated during three or four days depending on what the town council schedule.


 * The Gabarreros festivity (Fiesta de los Gabarreros) is the third most important one. It's held in mid-March and include the felling of a single pine tree in the main square. Such event has its origin in the traditional way of life in the past, when forestry workers used to travel to the nearby pine forest for selectively choosing, felling and cutting mature pines, and then they had to carry them by using pack donkeys.


 * Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in March as well since 2018, and mainly include live music, stands and people usually wear green clothes. It's one of the most important Saint Patrick's events in this part of central Spain outside the big cities. Unlike in Ireland, it is not a religious event.


 * The Vikings venue (Hispania de Los Vikingos) is held in early April. It is a Viking modern recreation with many exhibitions and funny outdoor activities. More than 8,000 people from Spain and other European countries have gathered during the 2023 edition.


 * During the first days of December a Christmas Market is organised in La Corredera square, and it's the largest one in the entire Segovia province.


 * The district also has a concert hall where all kind of concerts and performances take place almost every weekend. Thus, is the biggest one in Segovia province and can accommodate around 400 seated.

San Rafael

 * The patron saint is on 29th September. Until 2011 it was the most important festivity with seven days in a row, but, since then, a referendum took place and most people preferred to move the festivity to late July for weather conditions, as in late September it used to be rainy and cold at night, which has been ruined outdoor activities so many times.


 * The Gabarreros is also performed in mid-March in the Plaza Castilla square.


 * Around mid-August a craft and flea market is held in the Plaza Castilla square.


 * Every 31st December at early afternoon, some people gather for a brief swim at the near-freezing Gudillos river's water just below the viaduct of the AP-6 motorway.

La Estación de El Espinar

 * The festivity of El Carmen takes place in mid-July, whereas the street, live music festival of Femuka is held here yearly in mid-June.

Los Ángeles de San Rafael

 * This district is the newest one, as the first houses were built around late 1960's, so there are neither old folklore nor deep-rooted festivities. However, this district also schedules its festivities by late August.

Non-profit community-based associationism
The most notable are the Felinar charity for stray cats, the Yedra women's rights, the Interampas parent-student and the Hesperides citizen science-based associations.

El Espinar in film
The local council of El Espinar has been used frequently as a filming location since 1960 and the reason is that there is a great nature scenery that is fairly close to Madrid metropolitan area. El Laberinto del Fauno, Historias Lamentables, El Ministerio del Tiempo, Los Favoritos de Midas, Las Chicas del Cable, and La Influencia are the most well-known films mostly or totally filmed in the local council, but many other films, series and spots have been filmed here.

Gallery
 File:Le parc de El Cordel à San Rafael.jpg|El Cordel park in San Rafael. File:Panoramic view of Los Ángeles de San Rafael in the far distance from La Estación de El Espinar.jpg|Panoramic view of the highrises of Los Ángeles de San Rafael in the far distance from La Estación de El Espinar. File:Green meadow in late spring.jpg|Green meadow in late spring.