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Great history arround us...

San Martín de Montalbán acquired its villa status in July 1665 by a royal charter of Philip IV, its history as a population center dates back to the Neolithic.

Proof of this are the polished stone axes, ceramic remains and the gallery dolmen found in its term.

Subsequently, the area was inhabited by a population of Celtic origin, perhaps of some importance, since there are, although dispersed, several settlements and underground dwellings, used in that period, which makes us think of a large population. The most representative banner of the Celtiberian legacy, is the statuette of "The Lady of the Montes de Toledo", which shows its artistic publicity in its cold form and its immutable aspect, as well as, the use of concentric circles as ornamental details.In the Roman stage, San Martín de Montalbán, who has been especially benefited, who crossed two of the most current itineraries through his lands, stories such as Tarragona-Mérida and Ávila-Córdoba.Of these old roads, only the "Canasta Bridge" is preserved. Some of those times, were reused later to mark in medieval times the layout of the Cañada Real Segoviana, which during the time of the Mass was charged a tribute for the passage of cattle.Also in Roman times, although it is not fully demonstrated, two villas have been created in what is now Melque and Castillo de Montalbán.In the period of validity, the town of Melque is located in a flourishing monastery called Sta. Mª de Valdelmec. From that great splendor, the church of Sta. Mª de Melque has remained, building in the 8th century and with great honor gives its name to our oil.The Arab domination has become a monastery in the citadel and in the fortress of San Martín de Montalbán on the steep bed of the Torcón River. Later, in the twelfth century, Melque and El Castillo, were donated by Alfonso VIII and the Templars, forming part of one of the twenty-seven bailies with which they had in Spain

In the Roman stage, San Martín de Montalbán, who has been especially benefited, who crossed two of the most current itineraries through his lands, stories such as Tarragona-Mérida and Ávila-Córdoba.

Of these old roads, only the "Canasta Bridge" is preserved. Some of those times, were reused later to mark in medieval times the layout of the Cañada Real Segoviana, which during the time of the Mass was charged a tribute for the passage of cattle

Also in Roman times, although it is not fully demonstrated, two villas have been created in what is now Melque and Castillo de Montalbán.

In the period of validity, the town of Melque is located in a flourishing monastery called Sta. Mª de Valdelmec. From that great splendor, the church of Sta. Mª de Melque has remained, building in the 8th century and with great honor gives its name to our oil.

The Arab domination has become a monastery in the citadel and in the fortress of San Martín de Montalbán on the steep bed of the Torcón River. Later, in the twelfth century, Melque and El Castillo, were donated by Alfonso VIII and the Templars, forming part of one of the twenty-seven bailies with which they had in Spain

CULTURAL TOURISM OR MONUMENTS OF TOURIST INTEREST.

DOLMEN OF GALLERY.

The gallery dolmen is a Neolithic building of eminently funerary character, formed by the superposition of menhirs in vertical position and another supported on them horizontally. The construction has an access door, a corridor and a circular mortuary chamber. Your visit can be made through the Natural Path "Fresnos del Torcón" or faster from the road.

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ANTHROPOMORPHUM TOMBS.

These burials are carved in the granite rock and are of the same invoice and character as those found in the Necropolis of Malamoneda (Hontanar). Currently only two of them can be seen, but it is believed that under the subsoil, there are more tombs of similar characteristics, yet to be discovered. The set is located next to the Cañada Real Segoviana and is easily accessible to the visitor.

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PUENTE LA CANASTA.

The bridge the basket is the vestige better conserved than it was a secondary Roman road that united the legendary City of Basques, in the town toledano of Navalmoralejo, and Toledo. The construction allowed to save the Torcón River in a landscape of stunningly beautiful terraces.

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ERMITA DE MELQUE.

The church of Santa María de Melque, was a monastic complex built in the eighth century, (possibly on a Roman villa) on land then of Toledo, which was the capital of the Visigothic kingdom of Spain. Its rigging and the constructive techniques used are of a clear late Roman influence, but its plant, in the form of a Greek cross, and the few decorative details, remind us of other constructions of Byzantine origin.

It is built on the basis of large granite ashlars, arranged in irregularly shaped rows; Its walls are smooth, crowned by a cornice and the horseshoe arches are represented in doors and windows. Inside it is formed by four barrel vaults of high height, topped with horseshoe arches of seven meters that give way to a spectacular dome, base of the central vault.

The history of Santa María de Melque is going to be shaken by the Muslim domination, which influenced its art, and which made its central vault, the base of a defensive tower, perhaps only watch. Melque is undoubtedly the best example that has come to us, being able to contemplate a Visigoth monument, perfectly conditioned with a suitable lighting, as well as the possibility of visiting the interpretation center enabled in one of the farmhouses that surrounded the sanctuary.Santa María de Melque is, therefore, the best preserved Visigoth temple on the Iberian Peninsula and throughout Western Europe.

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CASTLE OF MONTALBAN

Everything seems to indicate that the Castle of Montalbán, regardless of its Muslim origin, should have taken importance when devising a line of fortresses in order to defend the Tajo river, as a border from the taking of the city of Toledo by Alfonso VI in 1085.

Later, the fortress belonged to the Military Order of Santa María de Valdelmec, being donated by Alfonso VIII, in 1197, the Order of the Guardians of the Temple of Jerusalem, better known as Knights Templar. In the period, Castillo de Montalbán became the head of one of the twenty-seven encomiendas that the Templars owned in Spain and to which large tracts of land and other fortifications belonged. The templar castle of Montalbán was, then, a fortress from which a wide territory was defended and a large population was administered and governed. When the Order of the Templars was suppressed in Castile, at the beginning of the 14th century, the castle was conceived as a Jurisdictional Lordship to Don Alfonso Fernández Coronel, to whom much of the current work is owed. The lordship passed into the hands of Don Álvaro de Luna and, later, to the Téllez de Girón, Counts of Montalbán. This superb fortress that rises on an impressive gorge created by the Torcón River, still looks, lush, its adarve and the magnificent Albarrana Towers of pentagonal plant. You can still admire an endless number of loopholes and machicolations, a magnificent keep and other rooms and walled enclosures. It is, without a doubt, the Castle of Montalbán, the strongest and most complex fortress.

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CHURCH OF SAN ANDRES

The church of San Martín de Montalbán was built under the patronage of San Andrés Apóstol and was built at the beginning of the 17th century on another from the 13th century, of which only the ashlar tower with Romanesque features remained. The current one was designed by Jorge Manuel Theotocópulus, son of El Greco. Engineer who also designed the City of Toledo. On the outside, it is octagonal in shape; although, in the interior, it maintains the plant in the shape of a Romanesque crucería, perhaps due to the influence of the previous temple. In the interior decoration, the murals made by Boris Lugovskoy stand out, a work of great beauty and peculiar shapes, unusual in this area.

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GREEN TOURISM.

The nature of San Martín de Montalbán is generous and varied, as varied is the countryside, because to the brown plains of farmland joins the raña (plain between valleys) by a steep and stony intermediate landscape that, for millions of years, has created El Torcón, river that descends from the peaks of the Montes de Toledo. In these lands, live the oak and the lavender, the olive and the thyme, the vine and the rosemary, the almond and the broom and a thousand other varieties. In San Martín de Montalbán, the orchard and the Mediterranean forest coexist, in such a way that the almond tree and the cereal host a rich and diverse fauna. Through its hills, the Toledan and Spanish partridge walks, the jumping hare, the quiet rabbit, the elusive boar and the wildcat. Its skies are crossed by owls, Bonelli's eagles, goshawks, peregrine falcons and little owls. Sometimes, it is easy to observe the majestic flight of the black vulture and the golden eagle and in the raña you can observe the bustard's passage. Faithful reflection of the affection and respect that its inhabitants have to their nature is the Natural Area of the Cantuérgana, where it is possible to spend the days of summer next to the natural pool, the rest areas, recreation and barbecues, mini circuit of bicycles, beach volleyball and playground. From this place you can make trekking and mountain-bike routes of medium-low difficulty, which bring us to the Castle itself through the Torcón river basin or see three old mills.

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GASTRONOMY.

The gastronomy of San Martín de Montalbán is based on the products of its land and the secular traditions of its neighbors. The municipality is part of the production area of two products that stand out for their quality: Cheese and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The visitor will be able to taste magnificent dishes of hunting, hare, partridge or rabbit. The hare with rice is exquisite and no less praise deserves the many ways to prepare the partridges: the Toledo, pickled, stewed ... Something that happens also in the case of the rabbit. However, if there was once a basic dish of the food of the natives of this area and, today, authentic pleasure to taste, this is no other than the stew, which competes in these lands with the best and most accredited of all Spain. If we consider the proximity of San Martín de Montalbán to the Montes de Toledo, it is easy to understand how its tables are enriched with hair hunting meats that make its cuisine one of the most varied in the province. Finally, the sweets have in the almond, of great production in this term, one of its most exquisite ingredients and fundamental part of excellent desserts.