Penal of Bustarviejo, by Public, in article A. Torrús “The Penal of Bustarviejo, living vestige of the slave labor of republican prisoners” (29/06/2014)

In this municipality it is possible to make a trip to the past through a visit to your criminal, which played a prominent role after the Civil War (1936-1939). Totally isolated and located at the end of a trail 2 kilometers from the municipality, gave shelter between 1944 and 1952 some 100 inmates per year, who had been sentenced to death by the Franco government. Madrid's prisons at the time had sadly high levels of occupation, so it was considered to commute the death penalty by carrying out forced labour. These political prisoners are the ones who lifted the great public works of the region. In Bustarviejo it was no different, because the inmates of this prison worked on the work of the train between Madrid and Burgos. They built two tunnels, a train station and the viaduct: with 26 m high and 11 Arches, won't leave you indifferent.

“Bustarviejo Penal Detachment“, Facebook page image Bustarviejo Penal Detachment

If you want to delve deeper into their hystonic and cultural heritage, you can approach the parish church (whose recent restoration has unearthed the remains of a primitive Romanesque temple built on a 13th-century medieval necropolis) with interesting gothic mural paintings (14th century), City hall (18th century), the unusual Hermitage of the Christ of the Peña (dug into the rock in 1625), the old school building (Towards 1930) and several sources that supplied the municipality, highlights include the New Fountain of the 18th century.

“Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception in Bustarviejo“, by General Directorate of tourism. Ministry of economy and technological innovation. Comunidad de Madrid. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 IS

“Mondalindo-Pico de la Miel“, blog image Dancing with sarrios

Apart from the history that keeps its cultural heritage, nature is another of the main attractions that Bustarviejo offers visitors and tourists. Formidable and undismitized, still retains the traces of traditional uses that have been shaping it for centuries. The mountain ranges that envelop him, from the Cervunal's Head and its Mondalindo buttress to the Marraz, they exceed the 1.800 altitude: m. Along with the massif of El Pendón, towering in the middle of the municipal territory, make Bustarviejo one of the most mountainous villages on the edge of Guadarrama National Park.

Come hiking to Bustarviejo, in the Sierra Norte de Madrid, it's a great plan. We propose that you carry out the send to Mondalindo by the Silver Mine, a circular route from 12 km that, starting from the football field of the municipality, arrives at Mondalindo via the Silver Mine, Open Col, The Albardilla, The Pad and the Cancho de Mondalindo to finish at the starting point, Bustarviejo. The Tower of Mine (old mine mill tower) was declared BIC in 1983. Another route is that of the Cañada Real Segovia, crossing the municipality on the main street: a legacy of the medieval expansion of transhumance. Here you can document all the hiking and mountain biking trails in Bustarviejo.

“Mondalindo-Pico de la Miel“, blog image Dancing with sarrios

Known for decades for its exquisite potatoes and meat. Old-fashioned oats preserves in its roots the good yantar: lamb and goat roasts, Steaks, Jews or calluses are some of their typical dishes. Do not miss the opportunity to taste them in one of their wonderful restaurants. This does not prevent you from approaching any of the municipal orchards, totally eco-friendly and environmentally friendly, to buy the best local product. If you make Bustarviejo an intermediate stage of your journey, you have the possibility to stay in one of its rural accommodation.

Sierra Norte de Madrid. Naturally Rural.

Photographs: Carlos Sieiro del Nido (Panoramio), City Hall of Bustarviejo, Facebook “Criminal Highlights Bustarviejo”, Directorate-General for tourism (Ministry of economy and technological innovation. Comunidad de Madrid), Blog Dancing with Sarrios.