This route begins at the San Lorenzo de El Escorial Tourist Office.

1. Leave La Lonja via the Arcos de la Compaña arches. Enjoy spectacular views of the Garden and the Kitchen Gardens of the Friars, as well as the lake and the majestic weeping willow which stands over it. This was originally one of the two oldest springs to be found here, the Blasco Sancho or Estribo Spring, alongside what is now known as the La Reina Fountain, previously named the Matalasfuentes. Horse chestnuts line the way.

2. Continue along the Paseo de Carlos III as far as La Herrería (declared a Picturesque Landscape Site in 1961, and a National Heritage property) through the entrance with its two columns: this slope is known as La Cuesta de los Pastores. Head down past the “Zarco” news stand to the right, with the Seminario Spring alongside. Along the way you will see a love tree (a species which blossoms early with spectacular pink flowers).

3. You will then reach the Golf Course, and opposite the Youth Hostel of Santa María del Buen Aire. This part of La Herrería is lightly wooded with ash trees. Continue alongside the golf course fence among majestic plane trees. Just before arriving at the Pilgrims’ Cross, a detour heads off to the Los Capones Spring.

4. The path descends as far as the Arroyo del Batán gulley before reaching the M-505 junction, which should be crossed with care.

5. The tarmac track leads directly to the Seat of Felipe II: there is a shortcut along the paths leading off from behind the picnic area, to the left. You will also pass by the La Prosperidad Spring to the left. On the right is the Chapel of our Lady of Grace. Alongside stands a lone Scots pine, listed as an Outstanding Heritage Tree of the Madrid Region. The Las Arenitas Spring is up above.

6. There is a magnificent stand of Pyrenean oak here, dotted with cherries, wild pear, common spindle, sloe, oneseed hawthorn, dog rose, bramble, wild plum, elder, privet, ivy, honeysuckle, fern, willow, hazelnut, crab apple… A great place for bird spotting.

7. The Seat of Felipe II offers spectacular panoramic views. There are outstanding examples of Montpellier maple, in particular an upright specimen alongside the steps carved into the rock, given Outstanding Heritage Tree status by the Madrid Regional Authority. Red-rumped swallows are a common sight in this section.

This journey through the 18th century begins at the exit from the Tourist Office. If you look down at the ground in La Lonja, you will see a series of iron ventilation holes running between the entry to the Monastery and Calle Grimaldi, indicating the route of what was known as the Montalvo Mine (1), an underground passageway connecting the Monastery with the Second House of Offices, providing a route via one arch which still stands on Calle Grimaldi, and another which no longer exists on Calle Floridablanca from the First House of Offices, to the Royal Coliseum of Carlos III (2), where this route continues.

Head right down Floridablanca and you will come to other buildings dating from the same century, such as what is known as the Milanese Inn (3), on the corner of San Antón, while further up the street are the unusual features of the House of Francisco Martínez de Sobral (4), known as the Stone Balcony House. Head back down Floridablanca to the Royal Barracks of the Spanish and Walloon Infantry (5).

At the end of Calle Floridablanca, cross over Plaza de la Virgen de Gracia and head a little way down the station highway. On the left is the House of the Families of the Princes Carlos María Isidro and Francisco de Paula (6), which is now the Euroforum Infantes. You could stop off here to visit the House of the Heir Apparent, or Lower House (21), the entrance to which is located opposite. This would involve a detour of one kilometre downhill and another on the return leg uphill.

At the end of the path, head along Calle del Rey from the square, as far as the King’s Coach Houses (7), which are home to the Museum of History and Carriages. Opposite this building is another landmark known as the House of the French Consul (8), the first in the town designed by the architect  Juan de Villanueva.

Further up Calle Patriarca you will reach the pedestrianised Calle Juan de Leyva, the site of another of Juan de Villanueva buildings: the Rental House of the Marquis of Campo Villar (9). Head around the house to the left and along Calle Santiago to Plazuela de Santiago. On the left is Calle del Duque de Alba, the site of the House of the Duke of Arcos, formerly known as the Duke of Alba (10). At the end of the street, continue upwards to take in the House of the Duke of Medinaceli (11), which has now been refurbished. Returning towards Calle del Rey you will reach Plaza de San Lorenzo, the site of another private house designed by Juan Esteban in 1771, the House of Felipe Díaz Bamonte (12).

Back on Calle del Rey, cross Plaza de San Lorenzo and take Calle Reina Victoria, where you will find the House of Stalls or Columns (13). Further on you will reach the centre of the town, and Plaza de la Constitución. From there, take Calle de las Pozas to admire the Garrison of Invalids and Mounted Volunteers (14). Alongside, on Calle del Rey, stands the Public Market (15), originally the “Great house for the storage of wines, supplies of dried goods, fish, bacon and other sectors”. None of the original building erected in 1797 still survives.

Further on is one of the buildings which has retained its medical function down to the present day: the San Carlos Hospital (16). Built by Juan Esteban in 1771, it has now been refurbished.

Head back down to Plaza de la Constitución and past the Town Hall as far as Calle Gobernador, to admire the Mayoral House (17). Further along, on Calle Floridablanca, is the Third House of Offices (18), also known as the House of the First Secretary of State. Continuing further down along Calle Floridablanca you will see some steps off to the right, on Calle Capilla: head down these as far as the La Lonja enclosure. Opposite the northern façade of the Monastery, to the right you will pass by in front of the House of the Princes and the Queen (19).

The 18th-century route takes us as far as the House of the Prince (20)  around 1000 metres further along Paseo de Carlos III. The last sight to be visited is the House of the Heir Apparent (21) heading down towards the town of El Escorial.

This tour around the 16th century begins at the Tourist Office, heading out towards the large open space known as La Lonja (1), bounded by a small wall. On the other side is the northern façade of the building which houses the entrance and ticket offices of the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (2) which can be visited. Continuing to the right along the façade you will reach what is known is the Stone of Santa Teresa (3) at one corner of the landmark.

The entrance to the Monastery Basilica is on the western façade (4). When you leave the building, head to the entrance to La Lonja opposite you. Cross to the other side and continue left as far as the arches of the Arcos de la Compaña (5). Just below the arcade on the left is the entrance to the Friars’ Garden (6), for which there is no entry charge. You will enter via the Monastery Infirmary, with the Convalescents’ Gallery (7) visible from the gardens. The gardens themselves offer outstanding views. To the right is the lake (8) which stores the water used to irrigate the Friars’ Kitchen Garden (9) below. Look to the right, meanwhile, and you will see the building that houses the Snow Shaft (10).

Leaving the gardens on the left you will reach a viewing platform (11), which is the perfect spot to take a photo of the southern façade of the Monastery with the gardens at its feet.

Head back a short way towards the arches and up the  Paseo de los Alamillos promenade as far as the House of the Company (12), which is now the Escorial-María Cristina Royal University Centre, with the Adolfo Suárez Park opposite. On the other side of the park two columns mark the entrance to the Woodland of La Herrería (13), with a short circular path route running around it.

Back at the entrance, head down Calle Leandro Rubio, the main street of the beautiful neighbourhood of El Plantel (14), named for the trees that Felipe II ordered to be planted, including species such as holm oaks, chestnuts, oaks and hazelnuts.

At the end of Calle Leandro Rubio head down Calle Floridablanca, with the famous House of Jacometrezo (15) on the left, the oldest in the town. This stone building dates from when work on the Monastery first began. Located right on the edge of El Plantel, it was home to the Italian sculptor Jacomo da Trezzo.

Head down Calle Floridablanca, and through some windows on the right you will see some beautiful, overgrown ruins with huge chimneys rising from outside what was once the Slate House (16), at the vertex of La Lonja, and which formerly provided accommodation for the gatekeeper of the King’s kitchen, the servants and the convent’s wicker-worker. Further along, as you reach Plaza de la Constitución, on the corner with Calle Floridablanca stands the Doctors’ House (17).

Continuing down Calle Floridablanca, on the right you will come to the Houses of Offices. The first of these is in fact the Second House of Offices (18), home to the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace, the patron saint of the town, in whose honour a pilgrimage declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest is held on the second Sunday in September. Further down, on the other side of Calle Grimaldi you will reach the First House of Offices (19), which contains a number of exhibition rooms and a functions hall which serves as the venue for various types of event.