History of Las Rozas

Las Rozas is located on the Roman Military Route between Segovia and Titulcia and eventually to Emerita Augusta, and is adjacent to the Rio Guadarrama, which provided plentiful fresh water all year round.

The Pasture of Holy María of the Retamar appears mentioned in a letter dated to November 18, 1303 in a lawsuit between Madrid and Segovia also relating to settlements at Galapagar, Torrelodones and Colmenarejo.

During the reign of Carlos III an ambitious project was conceived to create a navigable canal sourced by the river Guadarrama which would link Madrid to the Atlantic Ocean.

During the Spanish Civil War the area was held Mainly by republicans, and saw a number of large battles, and remnants of bunkers from that era can still be seen today in the Navalcarbón meadows.

Recent concerns about the ecology, air pollution in Madrid and 'peak oil' have prompted schemes to use railway stations more effectively and reduce the reliance of children on 'mum's taxi service' by promoting pedilecs and electric vehicles.