Gasco Dam, great hidden work of Carlos III in Las Rozas de Madrid

Are you passionate about historical places that they have a curious story behind them?

And also do long walks through nature areas?

If so, I'm going to propose one. hiking route in Las Rozas, near Madrid, to know a great unfinished work from the time of Charles III, at the end of the 18th century.

It is a large civil work located on the outskirts of Madrid, which you can only see by taking a long walk in a natural mid-mountain enclave, through what is known as Gasco Dam Route.

La Gasco Dam It is a large structure that, although it was never completed, is considered one of the most important civil engineering projects in Spain at its time.

Where is the Gasco Dam

La Gasco Dam It is located at the confluence of three municipal areas of the Community of Madrid: Torrelodones, Galapagar y Las Rozas de Madrid.

Also recognized as Charles III Dam, this historic structure is located in the northwest of the region, where it was abandoned two centuries ago.

Despite the time that has passed, the remains of the Gasco Dam They are still visible and have become a tourist attraction, a reason to take a hiking route through the area.

The surrounding area in Gasco Dam route It is a beautiful natural enclave that offers good views of the mountains that surround the Galapagar Port, in the first foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Therefore, it becomes an ideal destination for those seeking to enjoy natural beauty along with a touch of history.

History and construction of the Gasco Dam

La Gasco Dam was born from the ambition and vision of Carlos Lemaur, a French engineer who dreamed of build the highest dam in the world, and who a few decades earlier had designed and started building the Canals of Castile.

In 1785 he presented the new project to Carlos III, the construction of this great structure on the guadarrama river en Las Rozas de Madrid, with the ambitious objective of connecting the city of Madrid and the Atlantic Ocean.

It would be a canal of almost 800 kilometers that was going to unite the waters of the Guadarrama rivers, Manzanares, Tajo y Guadalquivir.

The objective was to facilitate the transportation of materials and facilitate the supply of water for agriculture.

However Lemaur He died before undertaking the works, which began in the aforementioned year.

How high is the Gasco Dam?

Despite the difficulties faced during its construction, the team now led by his sons worked until 1799, when it suffered a partial collapse.

Why the Gasco Dam was not finished

On May 15 of that year, a large storm caused the collapse of part of the wall, when it was already 53 meters high, which led to the definitive suspension of the works, together with the high cost and technical complexity of the project.

How curious, the Gasco Dam It was a very ambitious project for its time, and it was planned to be the tallest in the world, with a estimated height of 93 meters.

Although it was never completed, you can still appreciate its imposing ruins for a hiking route between the aforementioned Madrid municipalities of Las Rozas, Torrelodones and Galapagar.

Map: how to get to the Gasco Dam in Las Rozas

To get to the Gasco Dam you must do one hiking route from the residential area of Sickle Mill, where you access before starting the climb to the Galapagar Port, on the road that takes you from Las Rozas to El Escorial.

From real street, in front of Grouse Street, begins a two-kilometer path, with a continuous but, in general, gentle, ascent, so that In half an hour you can walk to the El Gasco Dam.