Patones

Patones
Rural, educational and hill-sport station
General view of the ancient village (Patones Arriba) with its characteristic slate pavements and buildings
Location of the municipality of Patones within the Community of Madrid
Patones
Location of Madrid within Spain
Coordinates: 40°51′17″N 3°29′07″W / 40.85472°N 3.48528°W / 40.85472; -3.48528
Country Spain
Region Madrid
Government
  TypeMayor–council
  BodyAyuntamiento de Patones
  MayorEladio Hernanz Gil (PP)
Area
  Total
34.5 km2 (13.3 sq mi)
Elevation
718 m (2,356 ft)
Population
 (2018)
  Total
523
  Rank1st
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal codes in Spain
28107
Area code34 (Spain) + 91 (Madrid)
Patron SaintVirgen de Patones
Consists of two settlements: Arriba (upper) Patones – the ancient hillside village known as the Reino de Patones (Kingdom) abandoned in the mid 20th century for Abajo (lower) Patones, a larger modern town on the plain below.

Patones is a Spanish municipality in the region of the Comunidad de Madrid situated partly in the valley of the river Jarama and partly in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range.

Although small, the town has its own council, and consists of two distinct settlements: The ancient hillside village (Upper) Patones Arriba and the modern (Lower) Patones Abajo on the plain below.

  • Altitude: 834 m
  • Extension: 35 km²
  • Distance from Madrid: 60 km
  • Population (in 1999) 368

According to an 18th-century travelogue quoted below, the name is believed to originate from the family name of the first settlers Patón, who were, reputedly refugees from Muslim invaders who established a private Christian Kingdom of Patones Alternatively, since Iberian languages are of Latin origin the name may simply be derived from patricius.