Located at the North-East of Madrid,l’Escorial is one of the most known places and visited of Spain:
How to get there? l’ El Escorial is located at approximately 45 km of Madrid, on Avda de Juan de Borbon y Battemberg. If you go there by car, you will have to take A6 then M505. You can go also there by train from the station of Atocha. Another option, is to take the bus which guarentees the connection Madrid-el Escorial, but it is recommended to hold the bus in advance. One whole day is sufficient but necessary if you want to visit the monastery and its many appendices.
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monastery de San lorenzo de El EscorialThe monastery was built under Philippe II following his victory against the French, at the time of the head office of Saint-Quentin in the XVIth century. He decides then to build a palace to express its gratitude towards SAINT LAURENT and its faith in christ. |
The main function of the monument is a monastery, but Philippe II will decide to settle his apartments there. At the architectural level, the monastery is rather austere, but impressive by its diemensions. One can notice that it has the form of a grill, object of the martyr of the St. Lawrence. A church is located in the court of l'Escorial. Philippe II wished that this work be a homage to God and not the residence of the king, this why we can nottice an impressive contrast between the royal appartments and and the basilica.Later on, the Bourbons made changes to the monastery, in particular by transforming it into a palace with a french style, with marble grounds and mural tapestries. In 1984, l'Escorial was classified world inheritance by l'UNESCO.
opening hours: from april to september: from 10am to 7pm every day. from October to March: 10am to 17pm every day.The monastery is closed on bak holidays.
