El Escorial: From Tourist Stop to Spiritual Retreat

El Escorial has become one of my favorite getaways from Madrid. What began as a few simple day trips in 2023 later became the setting for a deeply moving retreat in 2025. Here's a look at both experiences—one historical, one spiritual.

First Visits: History, Hiking, & Memories (Sep & Oct 2023) 

El Escorial has been one of my favorite day trips around Madrid! It is a quintessential Spanish town that is about an hour to an hour and half by bus outside Madrid. My friends and I went about mid-September and again in October. Both times the weather was perfect for sightseeing and walking around. 

The main attraction here is the monastery, which was built between 1562-1586. Inside the monastery you can see spaces such as the library, basilica, courtyard, gardens, among other things. I found the Pantheon of Kings, where members of the royal family have been buried, to be the most impressive. The monastery is open for visits depending on the time of year between 10 am - 6 or 7 pm. Tickets are around 14€ per person.

Another fun activity around El Escorial is to hike. Though be forewarned that the trail can be hard to find. My friends and I started off strong, but quickly got sidetracked as there are not any blazes or clear indicators. However, the view from the top is incredible. You can see the town around the monastery and even a little beyond.

Second Visit: Young Adults Retreat (May 2025) 

This time heading up to El Escorial had a different feel. It was a cloudy, rainy spring day. Instead of just going up to sight see, there was a deeper purpose: to seek God in community. 

The theme for the young adults retreat for 2025 was Kingdom Maturity, a topic that challenged us all. Being apart of the leadership team, we had been preparing activities and logistics for about a month. Most importantly we had been laying a foundation through prayer and God most certainly showed up during the three days in El Escorial. 

The retreat was made up of different sessions: devotionals, worship, reflection, preaching's, and a workshop. Without communicating the specific topics for each session, God worked them together so that they build upon one another. Below are some key ideas and questions that stood out from the different sessions:

• Are you just visiting God or are you habituating/ abiding in Him?

• We need to be rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:6-7)

• The difference between having a child like faith and a childish faith is about being trusting and dependent on God.

• Are you living by the spirit or the flesh? (Galatians 5:16-26)

• Our life is but a vapor, here today, gone tomorrow (James 4:14) 

• Are you pursuing happiness or God?

• What kind of soil are you? (Matthew 13:1–23)

• What is shaping or forming you? 

• As a women of you have an attribute of God (Ezer found in Genesis 1:26-28 & Genesis 2:!8)

Based on the conversations I have had after, I know we all left feeling one form of conviction or another. Outside of the teachings, God’s presence during our times of worship and reflection was impactful and helped to regenerate and refresh my spirit. 

Another big part of the retreat were times of building community through different games and activities. We enjoyed late nights of competition and good discussions. 

The retreat left me both refreshed and convicted. As I return to everyday life, I’m continuing to pray into what God revealed and to pursue Him with deeper purpose. El Escorial will always hold a special place in my heart—not just as a beautiful town, but as a place where I encountered God in a new way.