The Las Berceas swimming pools, located in the heart of the Fuenfría Valley, are now accessible to all following a comprehensive renovation that includes walkways, adapted changing rooms, and cognitive signage.
The Las Berceas swimming complex, situated in the heart of the Fuenfría Valley in Cercedilla, has completed an ambitious renovation that makes it a benchmark for universal accessibility in the Sierra de Guadarrama. The works, which lasted several months, have transformed both the outdoor and indoor spaces to ensure that people with reduced mobility, the elderly, or families with strollers can enjoy this privileged natural environment without barriers.
Paths that blend with the forest
Outside, 228 metres of noble wood walkways and earthen pavements have been constructed throughout the site, minimizing visual impact. These paths, flanked by wild granite slabs and traditional wooden fencing, allow for comfortable and safe transit. Additionally, hidden drainage channels have been installed to prevent erosion and keep the paths firm even after mountain rains.
To enhance biodiversity, 20 new tree specimens have been planted, integrating them into the native forest mass, and the soil has been enriched with topsoil and grassland. The result is an accessible walk through the dense greenery of the pine forests, where any visitor can feel part of the landscape.
Adapted changing rooms and anti-slip safety
Inside, the renovation has been equally profound. 4 large adapted wooden doors have been installed to facilitate access for wheelchairs and strollers. The wet rooms now feature 170 square metres of anti-slip vinyl flooring, eliminating the risk of slips. The plumbing has been completely renewed, creating two adapted sanitary areas with free-standing sinks, high-tank toilets, and four ergonomic grab bars.
Cognitive accessibility has also been taken into account: the complex has a clear and simplified signage system that aids orientation for people with intellectual disabilities or the elderly. All of this, according to the Sierra de Guadarrama Tourism Innovation Centre, aims to ensure that “the experience of visitors is of universal quality”.
“It is possible to adapt a top-level tourist resource in nature, ensuring a universal quality experience that respects and enhances the valuable environment surrounding it,” sources from the Tourism Innovation Centre highlight.
A boost for inclusive tourism in the Sierra
This initiative is part of the Sustainable Tourism Plan in Destination by the Sierra de Guadarrama Development Association (Adesgam), funded by European Next Generation EU funds. The goal is to make the Sierra de Guadarrama an inclusive tourist destination, where nature is accessible to all. For the residents of Cercedilla and visitors from the Community of Madrid, Las Berceas consolidates itself as a summer plan without exclusions, where swimming in the pool and walking through the valley are within everyone's reach.
The works have now been completed and the complex is operational. Those who wish to see it for themselves just need to head to the Fuenfría Valley and discover that sometimes the best news is the one that paves the way.
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