Ermita de Nuestra Señora de las Rozas
Standing quietly on a low rise just outside the historic core, the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de las Rozas is the oldest surviving structure in the municipality — a Romanesque-influenced hermitage whose origins trace to the 13th century and whose stone walls have witnessed every chapter of this town's history, yet it sees almost no tourist traffic.
The Architecture
The ermita is a single-nave structure built in rough granite ashlar typical of the Sierra de Guadarrama building tradition, with a simple espadaña bell tower and a south-facing porch that frames a beautifully worn stone doorway.
Inside, the whitewashed walls and barrel-vaulted ceiling create an atmosphere of austere calm; the carved wooden retablo behind the altar dates to the 17th century and retains traces of original polychrome paint.
The Pilgrimage Tradition
Every September, Las Rozas holds its Fiestas Patronales in honour of the Virgin of Las Rozas, and a traditional romería (pilgrimage procession) winds from the town centre to the ermita — a living folk tradition that has continued for centuries and draws the whole community.
The procession involves music, traditional dress and an outdoor mass at the ermita, followed by an open-air picnic in the surrounding meadow — one of those genuinely local experiences that no guidebook tends to flag.
Visiting Practically
The ermita is normally locked outside of religious celebrations, but the exterior and surrounding grounds are always accessible and worth the short walk for the architecture and the peaceful setting.
The September fiestas (typically the second weekend of the month) are the best time to see the interior and experience the romería — check the Las Rozas Ayuntamiento website for exact dates each year.
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