Park
Casita del Príncipe
A small neoclassical pleasure palace from the 18th century, built for the later King Karl IV. in a garden below the monastery. Two mighty sequoias stand in the park.
Spain
San Lorenzo de El Escorial
CityCulture
San Lorenzo de El Escorial lies about 50 kilometres northwest of Madrid at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama.
by Felix Gillen
San Lorenzo de El Escorial lies about 50 kilometres northwest of Madrid at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama. The town is defined by the monastery of El Escorial, which Philip II had built in the 16th century as a palace, monastery and royal burial place, and which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sights in San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Discover the most important sights and attractions
Historic Landmark
Chair of Philip II
Seats carved into granite blocks in La Herrería forest, south of the village. According to tradition, Philip II observed the construction of the monastery from here, and the view over the site remains one of the best to this day.
Royal Monastery of El Escorial
Philip II built this complex – a monastery, palace, basilica, and library – from grey granite between 1563 and 1584. Highlights include the library with its painted barrel vault, the art collection, the king's humble quarters, and the crypt, burial place of almost all Spanish kings since Charles V. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Essen & Trinken
Restaurant in C. Duque de Medinaceli.
Food and Drink
Meat from the Sierra
Beef from the Sierra de Guadarrama carries its own Protected Designation of Origin and is grilled in the local asadores.
Cocido and Game
In winter, stews and game dishes from the surrounding forests feature on many menus.
Culture
Philip II and his MonasteryPhilip II had the Monastery of San Lorenzo built to commemorate the victory of San Quintín in 1557 and as the burial place for his father, Charles V. Architects Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera created a severe granite edifice, which served as a model for the later Herrera style. Philip occasionally ruled his empire from here and died in his monastic quarters in 1598. In the 18th century, pleasure houses like the Casita del Príncipe were added under the Bourbons.
Local adventures
From Madrid, take the Cercanías train from Atocha or Chamartín to El Escorial in about an hour. From the station, walk or take a bus uphill to the center. Buses also depart from Moncloa bus station. Within town, everything is walkable; for Silla de Felipe II, you'll need a car or an hour's walk.
Accommodations in San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Find perfect stay in San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
Search Hotels
Agoda* (Affiliate link)
Search Hotels
Airbnb
Vacation Rentals
* Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.
Campgrounds in San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Find perfect campground in San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Plan your trip to San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Save places, build a route and plan your city trip, all in one place.
- 1
- 2
Plan your trip
The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.
- 3
Use it on the road
Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.
