Santorcaz

Santorcaz is a town and municipality in the Community of Madrid, Spain. It was built on a Bronze Age settlement and became a town in 1486.

Location

Santorcaz is located on the moors rising up to the left bank of the Henares. The thalweg of the main hydrographic feature of the municipality, the Anchuelo creek, marks the lowest altitude of the municipality.

History

Located some metres north of the housing at the opposite side of the M-213 road, the Llano de la Horca site hosts a Late Iron Age Carpetanian oppidum, built over an older Bronze Age occupation phase.
In 1129, Santorcaz was donated along with other places attached to the land of Alcalá, to Archbishop Raymond of Toledo. The effects of the War of the [Spanish Succession|Succession War] plunged the town into a dire state in 1706. The town underwent French [Imperial Army |French military occupation] during the Peninsular War. During a formal survey, it was noted that Santorcaz was supplied by water from a fountain which had no records of when it was constructed. This was later restored by the Community of Madrid due to it having a risk of collapse because of a lack of maintenance.
The opening of the road from Madrid to the passing near the town fostered some economic recovery after 1817. Sights include the church of San Torcuato and the annexed castle of Torremocha.