Rascafría is a beautiful, peaceful town in the northwestern area of the Madrid region, sitting in the incomparable geographic surroundings of the the Lozoya valley.

In town is the parish church of San Andrés Apóstol, dating from the 15th century and restored in the 20th century, which preserves in its central nave some Gothic vaults and coffered ceilings from the 16th century. But the most outstanding feature of Rascafría is the Monastery of El Paular, which was founded in the 14th century and is situated two kilometres from town. Particularly striking are the church, the cloister and the Hail Mary courtyard, with a main front worked from stone by Gil de Hontañón. Both the monastery and the church bear traces of several architectural styles, ranging from Gothic and Mudejar to baroque.