Villanueva de la Cañada

City Hall in Villanueva de la Cañada

File:The El Campesino directing Republican soldiers at Villanueva de la Canada.jpg

The El Campesino directing Republican soldiers at Villanueva de la Cañada; 1937

Villanueva de la Cañada is a municipality in the west of the Comunidad de Madrid (España), north-west of the city of Madrid. It borders Valdemorillo and Villanueva del Pardillo to the North, Majadahonda, Boadilla del Monte and Villaviciosa de Odón to the East, Brunete to the South and borders Quijorna to the West.

It has a resident population of 18,425 (INE 2012), which increases to almost 30,000 due to the Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio.

It covers an area of 34.92 km², 30 km from the capital. Geographically, it sits on a large plain, in which there are several promontories of rare height, on one of which is found the castle of Aulencia o de Villafranca, its principal monument.

There are numerous populated areas surrounding the edge of the urban centre, due to a strong push towards urbanisation of the municipality. Guadamonte, La Raya del Palancar, Villafranca del Castillo and la Mocha Chica are the most developed.

Geography

Villanueva de la Cañada is watered by the rivers Guadarrama and Aulencia, as well as various streams. The latter joins eventually the Guadarrama, which flows in turn into the Tajo.

Geologically, its limits form part of the depression of the Tajo and it is defined by the existence of many alluvial fields, with an average elevation of 652 metres.

History

Coat of arms of Villanueva de la Cañada

Major roads

The municipal limits of Villanueva de la Cañada are crossed by the following major roads:

• M-600: joining San Lorenzo de El Escorial with Navalcarnero;
• M-503: joining Villanueva de la Cañada with the M-50 and M-500 (carretera de Castilla);
• M-513: joining Brunete with the M-50, passing through Guadamonte;
• M-521: joining Villanueva de la Cañada with Quijorna.

Public transport

Villanueva de la Cañada is connected by several coach lines:

• 530: Navalcarnero-Villanueva de la Cañada;
• 575: Boadilla del Monte-Brunete (via Guadamonte);
• 581: Madrid (intercambiador de Príncipe Pío)-Villaviciosa de Odón-Brunete- Villanueva de la Cañada-Quijorna;
• 623: Madrid (intercambiador de Moncloa)-Las Rozas de Madrid – Villafranca del Castillo;
• 626: Las Rozas de Madrid-Majadahonda-Villanueva de la Cañada;
• 627: Madrid (intercambiador de Moncloa)-Villanueva de la Cañada-Brunete;
• 669: San Lorenzo de El Escorial-Villanueva de la Cañada.

Education

Lycée Molière de Villanueva de la Cañada, a French international school, is in the city.

Sister Cities

• Metepec, State of México, México

Notable residents

• Paula Echevarría, actress and model.
• Juan Martín Díaz, player for Padel Pro Tour.
• David Bustamante, singer.
• Jaime Mayor Oreja, ex-minister and MEP.
• María Estela Martínez de Perón, ex-President of Argentina between 1974 and 1976.

See also

• Castillo de Aulencia
• ESAC
• Parque Regional del curso medio del río Guadarrama y su entorno

External links

• http://www.ayto-villacanada.es/ Official page of Villanueva de la Cañada

Statistics

• Instituto de Estadística de la Comunidad de Madrid > Ficha municipal.
• Instituto de Estadística de la Comunidad de Madrid > Series estadísticas del municipio.

Road maps, cartography and aerial photography

• Instituto de Estadística de la Comunidad de Madrid > Nomenclátor oficial y callejero.

Others

• InfoVillanueva.com: Noticias actualizadas en tiempo real, empresas, foro de opinion y otros contenidos..

General references

• Villanueva de la Cañada website: news, culture, stores and companies...