El Escorial, Madrid

El Escorial
Church of San Bernabé.
Location of El Escorial in Madrid
El Escorial
Location in Spain
Coordinates: 40°34′54″N 4°7′33″W / 40.58167°N 4.12583°W / 40.58167; -4.12583
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityCommunity of Madrid
ProvinceMadrid
ComarcaVegas de Coria
Government
  MayorAntonio Vicente Rubio (PP)
Area
  Total
68.75 km2 (26.54 sq mi)
Elevation
909 m (2,982 ft)
Population
 (2018)
  Total
15,842
  Density230/km2 (600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
28280
WebsiteOfficial website

El Escorial is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, located 45 km (28 mi) northwest of the Spanish capital Madrid. It belongs to the comarca of Cuenca del Guadarrama. Its population in 2009 was 14,979.

The territory of El Escorial is home to the park of La Granjilla de la Fresneda. The famous Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial also known as Monasterio de El Escorial or El Escorial, is located in the adjacent municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. On the outskirts of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is the national memorial Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen).

The name of the town derives from slag (escoria) deposits from an old local foundry.