VIII. WOODLANDS AND HUNTING

Since the Monastery was built the woodlands of El Escorial were magnificent meadows with large stretches of marsh land and very especial fauna and flora. Later on the lands surrounding the Monastery were declared a Royal Hunting Ground and was fenced all around. To get access there were ten gates. The main gate was called "El Tercio" next to the bridge of the same name. The whole of the Royal Woodlands or Royal Hunting Ground was made up by the following meadows: Campillo y Monasterio, Castañar, Herrería, Freneda o Granjilla, Radas, Ermitaños, Cuelgamuros, Cuarto Carretero, Zorreras and Milanillo.

Carlos III was a very keen hounting man and regardles of the weather he was out hunting every day as a treatment for his neurosis and to help him to forget his problems. His hunting expeditions required several carriages drawn by mules in relay, needing two hundred of them a day. The game was numerous, at a time they recorded up to 16.000, deers, wild boars, wild pigs, rabbits, hares and foxes. You can see several cynegetic exhibits: hunting dog´s collars, traps, horns, cornemuses and a collection of pistols and guns.