Free walking tours in Patones and what to see

Must-sees

Patones is in the north of the Madrid region, on the border with Guadalajara, and has two very different centres. Patones de Abajo, on the plain, is where most people live, but the visit is to Patones de Arriba, hidden in a ravine. It is one of the best examples of the black slate architecture of Madrid: houses, pens, threshing floors and cobbled streets made of dark slate. The old church of San José, a 17th-century hermitage, now serves as an interpretation centre and tourist office. Do not miss the washhouse or the legend of the King of Patones.

There is more to see nearby. The Pontón de la Oliva is an old dam of the Canal de Isabel II, the first attempt to bring water from the Lozoya to Madrid, and from there trails lead to the badlands, reddish clay formations with an almost lunar look. In the Dehesa de la Oliva are the apse and part of the nave of a Romanesque-Mudéjar hermitage, next to an archaeological site with remains from many periods.

Free tours and guided visits

In Patones you can join a free walking tour of Patones de Arriba, a pay-what-you-like walk through the slate streets where you hear the history of the village and its legends. The tourist office also runs guided visits you can book on the spot. If you prefer nature, waymarked routes leave from the village, from a short walk around its corners to the Senda del Genaro, which skirts the El Atazar reservoir.

How long to spend

Patones de Arriba can be seen in a couple of hours, so it makes a good half-day trip from Madrid. If you add the Pontón de la Oliva and the badlands route, allow a full day. With a second day you can do a longer route, such as the one to El Berrueco or a stretch of the Senda del Genaro. Cars are left on the edge of the upper village.

Where to stay

For a special setting, look for rural houses in Patones de Arriba or on its edges, where the village falls silent at night. Patones de Abajo has a few more services and is convenient if you come by car. Choice in the area is small, so book well ahead. Torrelaguna, very close, is a good alternative with more options.