Spanish Civil War 1936–1939
La Granja offensive – the battlefield above La Granja (Cabeza Grande, Matabueyes)
Real Sitio de San Ildefonso (La Granja) · Battlefield
The story
To relieve pressure on Bilbao, the Republic launched an attack across the Sierra de Guadarrama towards Segovia. General Walter's 35th Division, including the XIV International Brigade, struck from the Navacerrada pass on 30 May 1937 against Nationalist positions on the heights of Cabeza Grande and Matabueyes above La Granja. Initial gains were lost to counter-attacks and Condor Legion air strikes; the offensive was called off within a week with heavy Republican losses. Hemingway set 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' against the preparations for this attack.
What you can see today
Mountain slopes and pine forest between the CL-601 (Puerto de Navacerrada road) and La Granja; scattered trenches and positions remain in the forest.
Plan your visit
The pin marks La Granja, the starting point for the mountains above where the fighting took place; it is not a trench or strongpoint. Remains in the forest are not signposted, so keep to the paths. Avoid duplicating the Madrid-side Guadarrama stops.
Sources
Nearby sites
- Alto del León (south side), Guadarrama · 24 km
- Bustarviejo penal labour camp · 27 km
- Valle de Cuelgamuros (former Valle de los Caídos) · 31 km
- Frente del Agua, Paredes de Buitrago · 39 km
- Fresnedillas de la Oliva bunkers · 46 km
- Villanueva de la Cañada & Mosquito Ridge · 50 km
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The Spanish Civil War 1936–1939
A free field guide for your phone: the route, the maps and the stories built in, even with no signal. The battlefields, trenches, ruined villages, shelters, museums and memorials of the Spanish Civil War across the whole of Spain, told fairly from both sides.
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