The Lecrín Valley is a beautiful place that you have to visit.
A unique area in this world, because in only 20 km you traverse all the climates in existence. Subtropical in the south, near the Costa Tropical; temperate, where orange trees, olive trees and almond trees bloom. Mediterranean, in the north; humid, in the vicinity of the Wetlands; Nordic and cold in the summits of 3000 m and over. It is part of Sierra Nevada, fifteen minutes from the Costa Tropical, near to the Alpujarra, 15 minutes from Granada and the Alhambra and 30 minutes from the Sierra Nevada ski station.
This climate, together with abundant water from the peaks of Sierra Nevada and a lot of sun, convert the Valley into a natural orchard and a privileged place to live or spend your leisure time. There are countless places to visit: waterfalls, gorges, orchards, lagoons, reservoirs, emblematic bridges, irrigation ditches, rivers, forests, meadows, snow-capped peaks, etc.
All these spaces provide numerous routes for you to follow. It’s possible to enjoy a great variety of birds, flowers, trees and plants of all kinds. These routes have different levels of difficulty, so you can choose the one that suits you best.
The tasty and varied gastronomy, from the Arab past, is exquisite in this area due to the wealth of its agriculture.
And if nature has been splendid with the Valley, not less so the hand of man. you will be able to delight in the numerous constructions rooted in prehistory, to continue with Roman and Arab remains. Finishing with splendid constructions from the XV and XVI centuries; bridges, oil mills, public wash houses, flour mills and churches. In charming houses and rural accommodations you will rest like a babe in the arms of Morpheus, helping you resume the course of your daily life, with new strength, full of enthusiasm and energy.
Padul:
La Ruta del Mamut
Padul is the Puerta del Valle - Door to the Valley, beginning at the Suspiro del Moro, where Aixa said to her son Boabdil "Weep like a woman for that you have not been able to defend as a man."
Discover Padul through its natural environment, its history, culture and heritage. In La Villa del Mamut you will find the perfect place to relax and enjoy yourself. Walk the Mammoth route discovering its most beautiful spots until you reach the lagoon. The Padul Lagoon, with its extension of more than 3.5 km2, is considered one of the most important in Andalucia, where more than 215 species of birds have been catalogued.
Delve into the charming streets of the historical centre. Visit its most prestigious monuments such as the Casa Grande, the church of Santa María la Mayor, the old wash house or its many crucifixes scattered throughout the municipality.
Durcal:
Perla del Valle - Pearl of the Valley, diadem of the Alhambra, it has three of the southernmost peaks in Sierra Nevada above 3000 m, El Caballo, Tajos Altos and Tozal del Cartujo. These provide the River Dúrcal with precipitous waters, giving it an incomparable beauty. Discover 5 waterfalls, some original bridges and mills that in the past used that water. Irrigation ditches run through both mountains and valley, forming an orchard which is an adventure to walk through.
The Puente de Lata - Tin Bridge, majestic and emblematic, spans the river at great height. It was built to connect the Valley with Granada via the now disappeared Dúrcal tram. From here you can admire the Sierra that forms the river and its beautiful banks full of trees, surrounded by numerous water sources, some thermal and mineral-medicinal. There are also numerous Arab and some Roman constructions.
Niguelas:
The Mirador del Valle -Viewpoint of the Valley, from where you can see most of its 17 villages. It is the highest of all, at the foot of Pico del Caballo, looking out over the River Torrente from an impressive cliff, full of flowers.
The route of La Pavilla is especially lovely, running along the cliff, it’s accessible and viable even with children.
The town’s main resources that you cannot miss are the Town Hall, the Romantic Garden, the 15th century Laerillas Oil Mill with all its tools and the surrounding plain full of olive trees.
From the viewpoint of La Razuela, look out over the folds of the tectonic plates in this geological fault; known as the Natural Monument of the Falla de Nigüelas.
Albuñuelas:
The deepest and most authentic town in the Valley. el Pulmon del Valle - Lung of the Valley, with an immense municipal area, grandiose and extensive. It’s full of abandoned mines, geodesic vertices, fossil deposits, Arab remains and the River Santo. The streets are full of flowers, here tranquility is your daily life.
A town attached to a ravine, protected from the north winds, which give it an exceptional climate. A starting place for numerous low mountain routes and horseback riding, giving you a special contact with nature.
Lecrín:
Lecrín is a group of towns sprinkled with history, culture and the typical landscape of the Lecrín Valley. Orange and olive trees intermingle in alluring places adorned by tradition and human activity since time immemorial.
In Mondújar, Muley Hacén built a castle for his beloved Zoraya and in its entrails lie the remains of some members of the Nasrid royalty. The Castle of Lojuela, in Murchas, the Castillejo and the Moorish palace house of Chite, are also testimony to the splendour of the last kingdom of Al-Andalus in these lands.
In Acequias, visit a spectacular hydraulic flour mill, "El Molino del Sevillano", a symbol of the agricultural heritage of the area. Talará, offers you a rich gastronomy based on local products, and handsome stately homes, such as the palatial residence of the Marqués de Mondéjar.
Béznar, cradle of the oldest tradition in the entire region: the parade of the Musketeers, dressed in typical clothing, who escort the Blessed Sacrament, accompanying it with deafening gunpowder shots from their muskets.
El Pinar
Composed of the towns of Pinos del Valle, with its three neighbourhoods: Alto, Bajo and Las Eras; Izbor, with its neighborhood of Los Acebuches and the uninhabited village of Tablate. This is the southernmost municipality of the Lecrín Valley.
Izbor is the town closest to the Costa Tropical and therefore has a subtropical climate. Tablate, where only the ruins of the Church and some houses remain, was very important in its day, due to its geographical and strategic location, next to the Nasrid Bridge.
Pinos del Valle, is perched on a cliff next to the Beznar reservoir, with impressive views of the Sierra Nevada range, especially from its hermitage of Cristo del Zapato.
Villamena:
Is made up of the towns of Cozvíjar and Cónchar, next to the homonymous river, both towns separated by the Alcázar stream. Along this stream there’s a spectacular waterfall, a kilometre from its source, before it flows into the River Dúrcal. Cozvíjar is the town of the Marquis of Villamena and the prehistoric Cueva de los Ojos. Cónchar, la Concha del Valle - the Shell of the Valley, is located in its heart and is the town of wine and pomegranates.
El Valle
Composed of the towns of Melegís, Restábal and Saleres, located in the centre of the Lecrín Valley. The municipality of the orange and orange blossom, it has the most benign climate in the Valley. Strolling along its paths at orange blossom time is to immerse oneself in a sea of fragrance. We highlight the public wash houses, the churches, the Barranco de Luna gorge, and the viewpoints.
For the best holiday in the Lecrín Valley, remember that on the Lecrín Valley Tourism website you can book your accommodation, your activities or your restaurant directly with the owners. Who better to help you plan everything? And without any commissions!
Isaias Padial
Susan Walker
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