The Lecrin valley is a particularly special place, and offers a great alternative to high mountain walking, particularly in the cooler months of the year. Sierra Nevada Guides recently had the opportunity to to explore the village of Niguelas, together with Gonzalo and Amanda from the hotel Alcadima in Lanjaron.
The gardens of the Osorio Zayas family mansion can still be visited. The current owner tells the tale of ownership during the civil war, when his father helped the family escape to Portugal. The highlight of the garden design are extensive box hedges, surrounding pools and fountains. It apparently takes 10 weeks to cut the hedges!
Moving on through the village you come to the main square, with the church on the site of a former mosque, albije (arab water tank and wading place), and fuente.
Nearby is a wonderfully renovated olive mill, one of the oldest and best preserved in Andalucia. The mill has 2 sections - the blood mill, which used mule power to turn the grinding stones, and an innovative water powered mill. The rooms include a range of artefacts and the mill was being used as recently as the late 1930's, when at the end of the civil war, electricity was in short supply.
If you continue walking through the village, you will find a great walkway, which follows an acequia (water channel), engineered to contour the side of the mountain. The path takes us below some cave houses, hewn into the rock - more commonly seen in Granada and towards Almeria. A return route can be made by turning right at the end of the walkway, to follow a path beside allotments, then crossing the river and back into the village.
A great short walk, with lots of interest, which can be combined with part of the GR7, which passes through Niguelas, to form a longer days outing.
Niguelas is the highest village in the Lecrin valley, at an altitude of 938m, it is tucked under the slopes of Caballo, one of our favourite Sierra Nevada mountains. The village is bound one one side by the Rio Torrente, which tumbles down a dramatic limestone gorge, and offers rock climbing opportunities. A casual visitor walking through the narrow streets is often unaware of the hidden gems of Niguelas, some of which have their iritis in its Arab past. Look out for the gardens of the Ajuntamiento or village council. These were part of a much grander estate built in the 16th century and owned by the Osorio Zayas family, which sadly was burned down in the 1970s. Part of the house remains and is now the offices of the council. The inner courtyard with its wooden balconies; well worth a visit.
The gardens of the Osorio Zayas family mansion can still be visited. The current owner tells the tale of ownership during the civil war, when his father helped the family escape to Portugal. The highlight of the garden design are extensive box hedges, surrounding pools and fountains. It apparently takes 10 weeks to cut the hedges!
Moving on through the village you come to the main square, with the church on the site of a former mosque, albije (arab water tank and wading place), and fuente.
Nearby is a wonderfully renovated olive mill, one of the oldest and best preserved in Andalucia. The mill has 2 sections - the blood mill, which used mule power to turn the grinding stones, and an innovative water powered mill. The rooms include a range of artefacts and the mill was being used as recently as the late 1930's, when at the end of the civil war, electricity was in short supply.
If you continue walking through the village, you will find a great walkway, which follows an acequia (water channel), engineered to contour the side of the mountain. The path takes us below some cave houses, hewn into the rock - more commonly seen in Granada and towards Almeria. A return route can be made by turning right at the end of the walkway, to follow a path beside allotments, then crossing the river and back into the village.
A great short walk, with lots of interest, which can be combined with part of the GR7, which passes through Niguelas, to form a longer days outing.
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