Valley of the Fallen Valle de Cuelgamuros
San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
The Valley of the Fallen is a religious and building complex in San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Designed by architects Pedro Muguruza and Diego Méndez, the 152 m tall site is a Lugar de Memoria Democrática that began in 1940 and opened in 1959. It is the 13th most looked-up sight in Spain on English Wikipedia and is one of 102 sights in the country listed on this website.
Planning a visit
The warmest months to visit are July and August, with daily highs of 26 °C and about 2 rainy days each month. The wettest months are October, November, and December, which see between 112 mm and 120 mm of rain. The site is 46 km from Madrid and 52 km from Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport.
Visitors can combine a trip to the complex, which is operated by Patrimonio Nacional, with visits to El Escorial, 5.9 km away, or the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, 31.2 km away. Other nearby locations include the Aqueduct of Segovia (34.2 km), the Alcázar of Segovia (34.7 km), and the Royal Palace of El Pardo (34.9 km). The site is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00. Admission is €9 for adults and €4 for concessions.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 26 °C. The wettest is November, with about 120 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
| Average low, °C | -2 | -2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 2 | -1 |
| Rainfall, mm | 84 | 67 | 57 | 94 | 97 | 48 | 19 | 23 | 46 | 112 | 120 | 118 |
| Rainy days | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
