Collado Villalba
Collado Villalba is a municipality in the Autonomous Region of Madrid (Spain). It is located 39 kilometers northwest of Madrid to 917 meters above sea level and has a population of 62 684 inhabitants ( INE, effective 1st January 2013) on an area of 26.5 square kilometers.
Geography
Collado Villalba is located in the south of the Sierra de Guadarrama in a wide valley on both sides of the river Guadarrama, a significant tourist area in the Madrid region. The site is surrounded to the west, north and east by mountains between 1,000 and 2,000 meters above sea level. The most important are from west to east: Abantos (1754 m), Cuelgamuros, Cabeza Líjar (1824 m), the Puerto de Guadarrama or Puerto de los Leones ( 1511 m ), La Peñota (1944 m), the Puerto de Fuenfría (1796 m), Siete Picos ( 2138 m), between the Puerto de Navacerrada (1858 m ), La Maliciosa ( 2383 m), El Yelmo (1714 m) and El Estepar ( 1404 m).
The climate of the area is Mediterranean - continental humid temperate. The mean annual temperature is 12.5 ° C, the mean value for January is 3.8 ° C and for July at 22 ° C. The annual average rainfall is 650/700 mm / m². There are 77 frost days and 16.8 days of snow annually.
Economy
Collado Villalba is the economic center of the district. Originally, the economic activities typical of mountain areas: cattle and sheep farming, beekeeping and granite quarries. 1950, 20 % of the population were engaged in agriculture. In the second half of the 20th century, many second homes were built and the town was transformed into a resort for the summer and weekends; by the service sector grew. Today it is a dormitory town in the Madrid region, business center and center of recreational activities in the area of the Sierra de Guadarrama. Not for nothing Collado Villalba is referred to as the "Capital of the Sierra ." Nevertheless, in Collado Villalba is partly still the atmosphere of a mountain village feel. Many gardens on either side of the Guadarrama river and quiet commercial streets still bear witness to the rural character. Little more than twenty minutes from the city center you will find yourself on the flat land that is surrounded by the mountains of the Sierra de Guadarrama.
Traffic
Collado Villalba is cut in the northwest of the urban area of the Autovia A-6 and is thus linked to the Spanish road network. The station is also a connection to the Spanish railway network.
Sports
In the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007 was Collado Villalba stage finish of the Tour of Spain.
Festivals
The feast of Saint James the apostle on July 25, is the most important festival of the village. It takes a week.
Twinning
French twin town of the municipality is Begles in Aquitaine.