Fiesta de la Cruz in Murtas 1 to 4 May 2010

Murtas is a pretty village in the Sierra de Contraviesa that celebrates la Fiesta de la Cruz. The festivities in honor of the patroness la Santa Cruz begin with ´novenas´ in her honor a few days before, but it is on 2nd of May when the silver cross is taken in procession from the hermitage that bears her name, to the parish church, where she is adored until the 4th of May, the day that she returns to the Ermita de la Santa Cruz.
Monday the 3rd of May there will be a holy mass at 12.30 hours after which the Santa Cruz surrounded by flowers is carried out of the church accompanied by the image of the patron saint San Miguel. They are carried trough the village for the ´estación´, the circular route that is done each year. The murteños experience their fiesta with a lot of devotion and emotion and it is much anticipated by many people throughout the year. During the procesion music of the band can be heard and the noise of hundreds of rockets that are fired. Some of these firecrackers and rockets are traditional vows, usually offered by people who make a request to the Santa Cruz, especially health-related issues and other demands, or out of gratefulness to the patroness. Apart from the mass and the procession, there will be various competitions, verbenas, coplas and migas.

Lupinus angustifolius or Blue Lupine

One of the wild flowers that will catch your eye when you drive up our track at the moment, is the Lupinus angustofolius or Narrowleaf Lupine. If you were to go higher up our ´pista´, you would just see fields full of this gorgeous lupine. They have a magnificent violet blue colour and there are probably thousands in flower on our finca at this moment. This plant is a member of the pea family (fabacea) and are sometimes grown for its edible seeds that ripen from August to September. They are used as a protein-rich vegetable or savoury dish in any of the ways that cooked beans are used, they can also be roasted or ground into a powder. If the seed is bitter it should be thoroughly leached before being cooked. According to the Spanish text on this ´altramuz azul´ on Wikipedia, the seeds are preserved in ´salmuero´ and served as an appetizer. We are curious to find out where. This plant was first described by the Swedish botanist Carl Linanaeus (1707-1778).



Related key words: blauwe lupine, abayobas, alberjón, altramuces silvestres, altramús, altramuz, altramuz amargo, altramuz azul, altramuz de hoja estrecha, altramuz loco, altramuz silvestre, altramuz silvestre azul, altramuz silvestre, azul, altramuz silvestre de flor azul, altramuz silvestre de flores azules, artambuces locos, chícharo de raposo, chocho, fabaslocas, haba de lagarto, habas locas, llobi, lupino, lupino azul, mollitos, titones, uñas de milano, bitterlupine, blaue lupine, schmalblättrige lupine, lupin à feuilles ètroites, lupin à folioles étroites, lupin a feuilles etroites, lupin a folioles etroites, lupin bleu, lupin petit bleu, vlinderbloemenfamilie, leguminosae, hülsenfrüchtler, leguminosen,  schmetterlingsblütenartigen, fabales

Cephalanthera longifolia or Sword-leaved Helleborine

When a friend walked up our track a few days ago, she came back with photographs of a special white flower that she had taken along our ´pista´. Today we had a look ourselves and found out that it was a Cephalanthera longifolia or Sword-leaved Helleborine. This is apparantly a terrestrial orchid common in some parts of its range, such as southern France and Spain. In the English text on the wikipedia it says that it grows in damp woodland places. We found our specimen underneath a holm oak. It also states that in the UK this long-leaved helleborine is a declining species, and that conservation work is being carried out at a number of sites to safeguard it. In 2007 it was listed as a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The charity Plantlife International is leading this work in the UK. In the Dutch text on ´Wit bosvogeltje´ (´White bird of the woods´) on the wikipedia we can read that it is endangered in Belgium, and that it has probably disappeared completely in the Netherlands. The Cephalanthera longifolia was described by the Austrian botanist Karl Fritsch (1864-1934) in 1888. Thank you Jenny for spotting this special wild orchid on our finca.
PS Today, on the 24th of May, we saw about eight plants underneath some holm oaks near our entrance gates. Some of them still beautifully in bloom. This is almost a month after this picture was taken. We´re happy to have found more of this sword-leaved helleborine.




Related key words: céphalanthère à longues feuilles, céphalanthère à feuilles en epée, langblättriges waldvögelein, schwertblättriges waldvögelein, céphalanthère à feuilles étroites, orchidaceae, orchideeënfamilie, orquidáceas, orchid family, orchideen, orchidacées, orchidées

Ornithogalum umbellatum or Star-of-Bethlehem

Along an irrigation channel close to Cádiar, we saw two specimen of this beautiful Star-of-Bethlehem. In English this perennial bulbous flowering plant has a few other names: Grass Lily, Nap-at-Noon and Eleven-o'clock Lady, amongst others. On some websites we read that this is a plant of the Hyacinthaceae, on others that it is a member of the Asparagaceae. On websites we think to be scientifically more reliable we read that it belongs to the Liliaceae or Lily family. In the Spanish text of this ´leche de gallina´ on wikipedia we can read that ´ornitogalo´ literally means ´leche de pájaro´ ( bird´s milk in English) and that this name was already mentioned by the greek botanist Dioscorides (ca. 40-90 AD). They quite rightly say that it is really amazing how the etymology can surive for thousands of years. It didn´t in all languages, but it does in this case hold true for its Spanish and its Dutch name  ´gewone vogelmelk´. In the Netherlands and in a few other countries it is on the red list of endangered species. Dioscorides described that the bulbs were eaten raw, cooked or roasted and that they had an diuretic and laxative effect. Nowadays the ornithogalum umbellatum is used in one of the Bach Flower Remedies.



Related key words: afisones, ajo de cigüeña, ajo perro, dama de las once, estrella de la monja, leche de ave, leche de garza, leche de pájaro, leche de pájaro portuguesa, matacandil blanco, maya, tijeretas,  sleepydick, dove´s dung, dolden-milchstern,  doldiger milchstern,  ornithogale en ombelle, dame d'onze heures, Étoile de Bethléem, leliefamilie, familia de lirios, lilienartig, la famille des liliacées

Procesión San Marcos between Bérchules and Alcútar 2010

On Saturday the 24th of April the procession of San Marcos from Bérchules to Alcútar took place. Many of  the young participants wore colourful flamenco dresses and stylish suits. Their seemed to be more riders - somebody counted about seventy horses - with beautiful mounts and a few more decorated cars compared to former years. Each year there is less livestock. As one person said to us, the faith in the blessing of the animals is diminishing. Somebody else mentioned that for the farmers that have their animals high up in the mountains it is a lot of work to take them all down. Instead of doing this, they now bring for example only two cows down to get the blessing. This doesn´t mean that there are less farmers that have cattle or less shepherds with sheep and goats in our village, it´s just that some berchuleros decide it´s no longer worth the effort. Although the character of the San Marcos fiesta might therefore change a little bit each year, it will most probably always remain a joyful happening for people of all ages. ´Una procesión muy linda y digna de ver´ as a friend said to us, with which we agree completely. We made a small slide show for the people that would like to get an impression of the San Marcos procession of 2010.



Related articles:
- Links on Berchules and Alcutar

Ophrys lutea or Yellow Ophrys

One of the first wild orchids to flower in the Alpujarras, is the Ophrys lutea or Yellow Ophrys. Their flowering period is from the end of March to the beginning of May. At this moment there are hundreds to be enjoyed on the GR7 between Cádíar and Lobras, especially near the Rambla de Albayar, the crossing of the GR142 and the GR7. This small orchid (about 10-30 cm tall) is also called yellow bee orchid, in Spanish ´flor de abeja´. In some species the flowers resemble the abdomen of a bee so closely that a male tries to fertilise it and gets covered in pollen, this is rubbed off on the next blossom. Which is just what the plant wants. In former years we saw this orchid along the acequia above Nieles, but not hardly as many. The Ophrys lutea is said to be one of the most wide spread wild orchids in the Granada province.



Related articles:
- Orchis olbiensis or olbia orchis

Related link:
- Ophrys lutea on online magazine waste

Related key words:
yellow ophrys lutea, gele orchis, gele spiegelorchis, gele ophrys, abejas, abejera, abejera amarilla, abejita, abejorros, burdel ratero, flor amarilla de la abeja, flor de abeja amarilla, hierba de la avispa, ofris amarilla, orquídea amarilla, zapaticos de la virgen, ophrys insectifera L. var. lutea, gelbe ragwurz, ophrys jaune, orchidaceae, orchideeënfamilie, orquidáceas, orchid family, orchideen, orchidacées, orchidées, flora, alpujarra, sierra nevada, alpujarras, sierra nevada, wandelen, wandelingen, wanderung, B&B, hotel, bérchules, trektocht, hiking, trekking, standplaats vakantie, wandelvakanties, holiday, urlaub, vacances

El Patrimonio Histórico de la Alpujarra y Río Nacimiento

Today we like to dedicate a post to a publication that we think to be special: El Patrimonio Histórico de la Alpujarra y Río Nacimiento. It is a journey through the history, the landscape and the old community life in the Alpujarras, through its patrimony. It is written by the ethnologist Agustín Sánchez Hita and it was published by the ADR Alpujarra-Sierra Nevada (Asociación para la promoción económica y el Desarrollo Rural) in 2007. Last Sunday, we had the pleasure to be introduced to Agustín. He told us that for the ADR he is at the moment working on a route on the traditional arquitecture of the high Alpujarra: ´Arquitectura tradicional de la Alpujarra alta granadina´. Agustín is also the co-author of El Paisaje industrial en Andalucía. The excellent publication El Patrimonio Histórico de la Alpujarra y Río Nacimiento can not be found in any bookshop, but can be obtained for free through the office of the ADR in Laujar de Andarax or in Órgiva. According to Agustín there are not many copies left, so anybody interested in obtaining this publication should not wait too long in contacting the ADR: http://www.adr-alpujarra.com/.

ADR Laujar De Andarax

Plaza Mayor De Las Alpujarra, 1

laujar@adr-alpujarra.com

950 51 41 61

ADR Órgiva‎

Calle de Lora Tamayo, 17

958 784 340‎

orgiva@adr-alpujarra.com

Related links:

- Article from the Ideal by Jaime Martín ´Un libro rescata el patrimonio olvidado de la Alpujarra´

- Article from the website arqueologia medieval with an index from the publication

Report of the II Censo de aves de la Alpujarra 18th of April 2010

Yesterday we joined the second bird counting organized by Miranda, Trevor and Carmen of the Alquería de Morayma. Just like last time, Miranda and Trevor handed out lists with the bird species they have spotted over the last twenty years near Mecina Bombarón and Cádiar.
This census Antonio Ramos, a guide of the Parque Natural Sierra Nevada, was going to join the group. He had taken a present with him for all the participants: the CD ´El Sonido de los Parques Nacionales - Sierra Nevada´ of Carlos de Hita and Iñaki Gabilondo.
After coffee, breakfast, greetings and introductions, the group of ten birders was ready to set off. Within five minutes, the first five birds could be ticked on the list. Gary, a wildlife specialist living in Cádiar, had brought his telescope and put it up for special observations. Hereby, all participants could see a nest of a green woodpecker that could hardly be seen with the naked eye.

When Gary sighted a pair of hawfinches (picogordo) near the Rambla de Albayar, he immediately exclaimed that this was the bird of the day. This coccothraustes coccothraustes, a passerine bird in the finch family, is a shy bird often hiding between leaves in the top of trees. This was the first species that we were able to incorporate. The crag martín (avión roquero) and red rumped swallow (golondrina daurica) were also added on to the list. Some participants were a bit disappointed about not sighting any birds of prey, but spotting a golden oriole and a flock of bee-eaters close to Lobras did make up something. On this second bird census, the group has come up with thirthy-seven sightings. This is the list with the results of the II Censo de aves de la Alpujarra held on the 18th of April 2010.
We encourage all birdwatchers coming to the area, to do this ´ruta de los pajaros´ and to take the list with them. We are curious to learn more about other sightings on this route on different moments of the year. So birdwatchers please leave your comments.



Related articles:
- Announcement of the II Censo de aves
- I Censo de aves 3rd of October 2009

related keywords: birds, aves, vogels, oiseaux, Vögel, check list, controle lijst, liste de vérification, checkliste, Kernbeisser, gros-bec casse-noyaux, appelvink

The GR7 long distance foot path through the Alpujarras

We would like to dedicate an article to the Alpujarras stretch of the GR7, anticipating questions we get from people that are thinking about walking this Long Distance foot Path or LDP. It will be a dynamic post, as we will add more information as we think this to be relevant.



GR7 IN THIS BLOG

We have made an index label GR7 in order to list all articles related to the GR7 in this blog. Off course this article will show up somewhere in the chain as well.
In order to only view the titles scroll down in the tabel of contents until you find GR7. From there you can click to go to the whole article.

INTRODUCTION

Rutasyviajes web gives a perfect overview of the whole Spanish part of the GR7.
As an introduction we have incorporated the module GR7 from our website http://www.elparaje.com/.
Use the pointing hand at the bottom right to go to the next page !!






THE STAGES

The section of the GR7 that runs through the western Alpujarras is over 100 km long and can be done on a trekking without having to carry a tent. (look here for campings along the GR7). It passes many villages and the distance between the villages that offer accommodation is never more than 14 km.
The guide ´Walking the GR7 in Andalucia´ divides this part in 6 walking days from west to east.
The ´Senda Granadina Tramo Alpujarreno Laroles-Lanjarón´ divides this section in 7 walking days from east to west.
The Spanish website of the Mancommunidad has the following stage description with maps, distances, times and profiles (all pdf files).

•Etapa 1: Puerto de la Ragua - Laroles
•Etapa 2: Laroles - Válor
•Etapa 3: Válor - Mecina Bombarón
•Etapa 4: Mecina Bombarón - Cádiar
•Etapa 5: Cádiar - Trevélez
•Etapa 6: Trevélez - Busquístar
•Etapa 7: Busquístar - Bubión
•Etapa 8: Bubión - Soportújar
•Etapa 9: Soportújar - Lanjarón
•Etapa 10: Lanjarón - Nigüelas

This is a list of the villages en route offering accommodation and the distance to the next village. It shows that it is easy to plan your own route according to the number of kilometres you want to walk per day or where you would prefer to stay.

Lanjarón - Cañar (7.9 km)
Cañar - Soportújar (8.2 km)
Soportújar - Pampaneira (7.6 km)
Pampaneira - Bubión (1.5 km)
Bubión - Pitres (5.6 km)
Pitres - Pórtugos (3.2 km)
Pórtugos - Busquístar (2.2 km)
Busquístar - Trevélez (14 km)
Trevélez - Juviles (9.0 km)
Juviles - Cádiar (9.6 km)
Cádiar - Bérchules (5.3 km)
Bérchules - Mecina Bombarón (6.0 km)
Mecina Bombarón - Yegen (7.2 km)
Yegen - Válor (5.5 km)
Válor - Mairena ( (7.3 km)
Mairena - Laroles (6.7 km)

GPS TRACKS

The web Rutasyviajes has a professional listing of the whole Andalucian route. It is a Spanish website and it limits the downloads per person per week.

MAPS

GR7 through the Alpujarras - part of the Guía Turistica de la Alpujarra Granadina
GR7 and GR142 combined suggesting circular trail posibilities!
Complete ! detailed map of the Sierra Nevada
The whole Andalusian part on Rutasyviajes.net

BOOKS

The Spanish topo guide at Tienda Verde
Walking the GR7 in Andalucia (Cicerone Guide)

     

Senderos de Gran Recorrido GR 7. Senda Granadina.

Tramo Alpujarreño: Laroles - Lanjarón.

Edición 1999, 205 pág. Autores: Mariano Cruz, Jesús Espinosa, Natalio Carmona

Edita: Proyecto Sur de Ediciones. ISBN: 84-8254-930-8

ACCOMMODATION

Official list sorted by village, on the Granada Province tourist board

BUS SERVICES

The ALSA bus routes and schedules may help in organizing your trekking holiday.

P.S: Merci pour les mots nif: forum Le site de la randonnée légère et de la MUL (marche ultra-légère)

P:S.2: You can leave a comments on missing info or tips on new links to help us improve

Related articles:
- Alpujarras villages
- Alpujarras campings

Related links:
- FEDAMON Senderos de Gran Recorrido in Andalucía
- GR7 in Valle de Lecrín
- Fred Triep. Een voettocht in de Alpujarras (grotendeels over de GR 7/ E4) in Zuid-Spanje
- Topoguide GR-7 Senda Granadina. Al pie de la Almijara y Sierra Tejeda (La Tienda Verde)
- Topoguides GR-7 Cádiz, Jaen and Málaga at FAM










Related key words: books, boeken over GR7 wandelen, livries, buchern, sendero granadina, footpath through the Alpujarras,  langeafstandwandelpaden, lange-afstand-wandelpaden, LAW door Andalysie, Grote Routepaden, Sentier de Grande Randonée, GR-Fernwanderwege, wandelen in Spanje, wandern, mapa, kaart, alpujarras, B&B in Andalusia, hotel in berchules, wandelvakanties in andalusie and trekking through the sierra nevada

Semana cultural with San Marcos and San Isidro in Bérchules

In Bérchules and Alcútar the patron saint of the animals is honoured every year. After a Holy Mass the figure of San Marcos is carried out of the church together with the figure of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of the farmers. Children in colourful clothes, youngsters in covered wagons, riders and villagers with their animals join the procession that slowly moves to Alcútar. Back in Bérchules ´roscos´ and animals are blessed and the breadrings are then handed out.
The San Marcos festivities are part of the cultural week celebrated from the 19th to the 25th of April.
This is the programme of the Semana Cultural in Bérchules 2010:

Related articles:
- Links on Bérchules and Alcútar

Related links:
- Article in the Ideal of Rafael Vílchez about San Marcos 2009
- Article in the Ideal of Rafael Vílchez about San Marcos 2008

Concentración de kayaks descenso Guadalfeo Órgiva

As we have had a winter with an exceptional amount of precipitations, the water level of the local rivers is at the moment higher than usual. Ideal for those who enjoy whitewater kayaking. On the 24th and 25th of April, a kayak rally descending the river Guadalfeo is organized by Multi Aventura Alpujarra S.L. in Órgiva. People from different parts of Spain will participate, as it is a ´descenso nacional de Aguas Bravas´. A couple of years ago, a national competition was held on the same stretch of the river that is considered quite challenging. The programme of the ´I concentración de kayaks descenso Guadalfeo´ can be found on the website of this company that offers a wide range of outdoor activities. During the San Marcos weekend they also organize many other activities.

Related articles:
- Alpujarras outdoors activities link list

Museo del Agua de Lanjarón

The Museo del Agua de Lanjarón opened for the public on the 29th of March 2010. The official inauguration had taken place on the 13th of February. For various reasons the opening was delayed several times, but now its doors are open every day, except on Mondays. The Water Museum is a small scaled display of the relationship of Lanjarón with water. There are three rooms, in the first one an audivisual show explains the water´s cycles. The second room is an audivisual space that explains the aspects of water related with the agriculture, health, and industry. The third room is dedicated to the historic aspects related with the water of Lanjarón.
One of the attractive aspects of the museum is combining parts of the old building with modern arquitectural concepts. Formerly the buildings had functioned as a flour mill and as a distillery. In the seventies it became the municipal slaughterhouse. Juan Domingo Santos, an arquitect from Granada, has been responsible for converting the old buildings into a museum and for the design of the outdoor spaces. A nine metres high wooden construction immediately catches the eye on entering the premises. In former years some natural springs were protected by wooden pavilions that people could enter, and this is the idea that the arquitect has emphasized. Instead of a spring, it encloses a kind of pond, and it is the sound of water that you hear all around you when visiting the Museo del Agua.
The small exposition is quite appropriatly situated next to the Río Lanjarón. At the other side of the river a path goes up into the mountains as an invitation to experience aspects of water in its natural surroundings. At this moment there will still be snow on the Cerro del Caballo (3,0005 m), the highest peak of Lanjarón.

Museo del Agua
Señor de la expiración, 95 Lanjarón. 958 770977
Winter opening hours 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:00 closed on Mondays
Summer opening hours 10:00-14:00 and 18:00-21:00 closed on Mondays
Entrance 3 euros



Related articles:
- Museums and private collections in the Alpujarras
 
Related links:
- Museo del Agua on the website of the town hall of Lanjarón
- Article on the arquitecture of the Museo del Agua on the website ocholeguas.com
- Photo album of Museo del Agua of Antonio Luis on Flickr.com
- Walking route up to the Cerro del Caballo

related key words: wasser museum, musee de l´eau

Live guitar music in La Cueva de Mora Luna 15th April 2010

Alpujarrahoy let us know by email (not on the blog) that coming Thursday at 21:00 hours Richard Waterborn will play classical guitar music in the bar la Cueva de Mora Luna in Mecina (Taha).
The place is small and if you want to have dinner there, reservation of the table is needed.
Entrance "Tela Marinera / Pass the hat"
Telephone: 958 765202 / 664 722145
See also an earlier article on this blog about La Cueva de Mora Luna

New white wine from Bodega García de Verdevique

The wines of Antonio García Santiago of bodega Garcia de Verdevique are well appreciated in our guest house El Paraje. They are natural wines from the Contraviesa with a lot of character. White wines do not have a large tradition in the Alpujarras, but Garcia de Verdevique makes a nice 100% Vigriego, which is an autoctonous grape variety.
A few weeks ago Antonio García Santiago announced a new white wine, that modest as he is himself, does not have a special commercial name. It is a mixture of Vigriego, Vioguier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
It can be described as wine with a profound gold yellow colour, a subtle flowery bouquet, a long complex taste with a light nutty flavour and a fresh, slightly dry ending.  Character again.
No doubt that we will keep this wine on our list.
¡Felicidades Antonio!



Related articles:
- Wineries or ´bodegas´of the Alpujarras
- Information on wine from our website

related keywords: wijn, vin, vino

II Censo de aves de la Alpujarra

On Sunday the 18th of April, the II Censo de aves de la Alpujarra will take place. The starting point of this first spring bird count will be Alquería de Morayma. The idea is to set off at 08.00 hours while the chance to see and hear birds is greater during the early hours. It will the same walk of about five hours as with the autumn bird census, during which 33 different species were counted. Anybody interested is welcome to participate, the only important thing is to be there on time. Detailed information can be found on the website of Alquería de Morayma.

Colleja or Silene vulgaris

Quite often we had heard and read about ´tortilla de collejas´ as being a local speciality. Although we have not had a change to try it out anywhere, we can make it ourselves now as somebody pointed out that the Silene vulgaris grows abundantly on our terrain at the moment. It is supposedly one of the best-known and most appreciated ´plantas comestibles´ in the region. Local people prefer to boil the young shoots of this bladder campion before they use them in ´tortillas´ or omelettes or fry them to make ´sobrehusas´ or stir-fries. After reading more about this edible green of the carnation or pink family (Caryophyllacea), we understand that the tender leaves may be eaten raw in salads as well and that it is a highly nutritious plant. Some people describe the flavour as being a mixture of walnuts and cabbage (would explain the Spanish name), others notice a spinach taste. Apparantly this can depend on the type of soil from where it is picked. We´re glad that each year there seems to be a greater variety of interesting plants close to our house as we no longer have the shepherd pass by with his flock. We´re already looking forward to the attractive white flowers of this bladder campions, which English name comes from its distinctive bladder-like seed pods.



Related key words: maidentears, eetbare wilde plant, blaassilene, taubenkropf-leimkraut, gewöhnliches leimkraut, aufgeblasenes leimkraut, knirrkohl, silène enflé

Campings in the Alpujarras

For trail walking through the Alpujarras, only occasionally it is possible to use camping sites.
For the GR240 only the Trevélez camping lies on the route. Using the few refuge huts and wild camping (or a lot of extra kilometres) are the only solutions. See this special article on the GR240 with all stages.
For walking the GR7 through the Alpujarras, there are campings in Órgiva, Pitres, Trevélez and Laroles.
See this page with all GR7 stages in the Alpujarras from the website Mancomunidad de municipios de la Alpujarra Granadina.
For walking the GR142 there are four campings on the route, Órgiva, Pitres, Láujar de Andarax and Fondón. They are not always on a convenient stage distance. Lodgings therefore also need to be found in hotels and Bed and Breakfasts.
This article lists campsites in the Alpujarras with link to their websites. Behind each camping there is a link to its entrance in campings.net website with good maps with their exact location.

FONDÓN
Camping Puente Colgante - campings.net - on the GR142

LAROLES (municipality NEVADA)
Camping Alpujarras - campings.net - on the GR7

LÁUJAR DE ANDARAX
Campings Cortijo la Molineta - campings.net - on the GR142

ORGIVA
Camping Puerta de la Alpujarra  - campings.net - 1 km off the GR142, 10 km off the GR7
Camping Órgiva  - campings.net - 3 km off the GR142, 13 km off the GR7

PITRES
Camping El Balcon de Pitres - campings.net - on the GR7, 2 km off the GR142

TREVÉLEZ
Camping Trevélez - campings.net - 1 km off the GR7 - 1km off the GR240

MAP GR240 south



MAP GR7



MAP GR142



Maps from Guía Turistica de La Alpujarra Granadina

Related articles:
- List of the Alpujarran villages with links to the town hall websites

Related links:
- Alpujarras campings working together on facebook

related keywords: kamperen, kampeerplaats, accommodation, wandelen, trekking, hiking, camping, vakantie, kampeervakantie, wandelvakantie

Museums and private collections in the Alpujarras

Here we list the museums and private collections of the Alpujarras. As almost all of them are small, it is quite often recommendable to check opening hours with the town hall or private owner. Some museums have a reference in the website of the Asociación Desarollo Rural Alpujarra (ADR) which is a rich source of information about the Alpujarras.

ALBONDÓN:

El Balcon de la Alpujarra: museo bodega

Bar-restaurant and wine cellar with a small museum

958 82 65 72

ALCOLEA:
Colección privado de Gabriel Moya: objetos etnológicos
Private collection
information ADR

ALHAMA DE ALMERÍA:

Colección privado de Porfirio Marin: objetos etnológicos
Private collection
information ADR

BERJA:

Colección centro Virgitano: museo histórico

Historic museum

information ADR

BERJA:

Colección privado de Pedro Sabio: objetos etnológicos
Private collection
information ADR

BUBIÓN:
Museo La Moralea : casa alpujarreña, museo etnológico
Alpujarran home, ethnologic museum
Opening hours Sunday to Thursday 11:00-14:00 
Openings hours Friday, Saturday and bank holidays 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-19:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Entrance 1,80 euros
958 763 225

information ADR

foto: andaluciaturismodigital.com

CÁDIAR:
Bodega museo Alqueria de Morayma




CANJÁYAR:
Museo al aire libre de Canjáyar, la historia de la Alpujarra en murales (video)
Open-air museum of Canjáyar, the history of the Alpujarras in ceramic tiles

CAPILEIRA:
Museo Pedro Antonio de Alarcón: de Costumbres Populares
Museum of traditional usages
958 763 051
information ADR

FONDÓN - BENECID
Coleccíón Rio Andarax: objetos etnológicos
information ADR

JORAIRÁTAR (municipality of UGÍJAR):
Labranza y Costumbres Populares: museo histórico de la Alpujarra.
Private museum covering a wide range of aspects of traditional Alpujarran life.
958 853 114
el museo en ideal.es

information ADR

foto llaan/schuitemaker flickr

LANJARÓN:
Museo del Agua
Water museum
Señor de la expiración, 95 - telephone: 958 770977
Winter opening hours 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:00  closed on Mondays
Summer opening hours 10:00-14:00 and 18:00-21:00 closed on Mondays
Entrance 3 euros
our article in this blog on the museum
el museo en lanjarón.es
el museo en turgranada.es

MECINA BOMBARÓN (Municipality of Alpujarra de la Sierra):
Museo fotográfico de Mecina Bombarón, 650 fotografías de la Alpujarra del periodista Rafael Vílchez
contact town hall: 958 851 001

MURTAS:
Bodega museo
Small wine museum in the bar restaurant "cuatro vientos"
958 343325

information ADR

NIELES (municipality CÁSTARAS)
Colección privado de Angelita Rodriguez: objetos etnológicos
Private collection historical ethnological objects
information ADR

ÓRGIVA:
Museo de Olias: museo etnográfico

Collection of 150 editions of Don Quijote de la Mancha books of Cervantes
Aula Cervantina "Agustín Martín Zaragoza"
In the public library of Órgiva

PITRES
Casa de Arte

POLÓPOS:
El Lagar del Cehelí: bodega museo de herramientas agrícolas
Museum of agricultural tools related to the viticulture
contact José Pérez 958 836827 - 958 836883
el museo en granapedia

information ADR

TERQUE:
Museo histórico etnográphico y Museo de la uva del barco
Jornada de recuperación de oficios antiguos, Terque 30 de septiembre de 2006 old handcrafts video 2006

information ADR

photos from the museum website

TÍMAR (Municipality of LOBRAS) :
Centro Interpretación Minas del Mercurio: Information on the mercury mining and other aspects of the cultural heritage and history of the village in the former school building of Tímar. It can be visited on Fridays at 12.00 hours and for groups (minimum of 5 people) by appointment.
958-768107 or 651-155264 (Ana Rodríguez Gualda, mayoress of Lobras)

TORVIZCÓN:
Colección privado de Augustín Góngora: objetos de esparto

Private collection of esparto objects

Calle Arroyo Pozo, 7
958 852029

Centro Temático del Vino Alpujárride
See article Inauguration
Finca Juan de Reyes, S/N
Carretera Haza del Lino a Murtas Km. 4 (GR-5204)
622 959500 (Juan Parrillas)
gerencia@alpujarride.com

UGÍJAR
Under construction, scheduled for April 2011
Museo de Turón y dulces (see article in Ideal)
Second house at the south entrance of Ugíjar coming from the A348

Convento Franciscano San Juan Bauptista
Museo arte sacro, religioso y biblioteca de Alpujarra
Free entrance. By appointment call 958-854055. (See video YouTube)

YEGEN (municipality of ALPUJARRA DE LA SIERRA):
Museo fotográfico de Yegen, fotografías del danés Vagn Hansen tomadas desde los años 1959 hasta 1989
Contact town hall: 958 851001
Fonda-Museo de Gerald Brenan
Opening hours Monday to Friday from 16.00 to 18.hours, contact town hall: 958 851001

Tourist boards

TOURIST BOARDS
Alpujarras Valle Lecrín
Granada city
Granada province  How to visit the Alhambra
Almería province
Andalucía communidad autónoma

Tourist office in Lanjarón
Visitor centres Sierra Nevada

Official english leaflet about Alpujarras Valle Lecrin (pdf 3,5Mb)

GOUVERNMENT
Diputación de Granada province
Diputación de Almería province
Junta de communidad autónoma de Andalucía

related keywords: toerisme, vvv, turist information, informacion turistica. alpujarras, B&B
, Berchules, Sierra Nevada, wandelen, Andalusie, Spanje, Spain

Sulayr GR240 introduction and links

We would like to dedicate an article to the Sulayr or GR240, anticipating questions we get from people that are thinking about walking this Long Distance Footpath. It will be a dynamic post, as we will add more information as we think this to be relevant.



SULAYR IN THIS BLOG

We have made an index label Sulayr in order to list all articles related to the Sulayr in this blog. Off course this article will show up somewhere in the chain as well.
In order to only view the article, titles scroll down in the tabel of contents until you find GR240 or Sulayr. From there you can click to go to the whole article.

INTRODUCTION

As an introduction we have extracted the module GR240 Sulayr from our website http://www.elparaje.com/.
Use the pointing hand at the bottom right to go to the next page !!



OFFICIAL WEBSITE

This is the official website of the Junta de Andalucia - Medio Ambiente on the Sulyar. Only partly available in English. In the chapter stages we link to pages within this site.

STAGES or TRAMOS

The stages are arbitrary. The majority starts and ends in the middel-of-nowhere. You might need to add the kilometres and the time to access the route from a village.
Nevertheless the stages are useful to describe the route. On the website of the Junta de Andalucía you will find this list of all stages all with links to their individual description and map. Below we already sorted the links per stage.

Tramo 01: Centro de visitantes ´Dornajo´- Casa forestal ´La Cortijuela´ (14,7 km; begins 1 km from hotel el Dornajo)
Tramo 02: Casa forestal ´La Cortijuela´ - Rinconada de Nigüelas (19,4 km)
Tramo 03: Rinconada de Nigüelas - Tello (15 km)
Tramo 04: Tello - Puente Palo (8,7 km)
Tramo 05: Puente Palo - Capileira (10,5 km; ends in village Capileira)
Tramo 06: Capileira - Trevélez (17,4 km; begins in village Capileira , ends in village Trevélez)
Tramo 07: Trevélez - Lastonar (24,9 km; begins in village Trevélez)
Tramo 08: Lastonar - Fuente del Espino (16,5 km)
Tramo 09: Fuente del Espino - Barranco Riachuelo (20,6 km; Posada de los Arrieros 1km up the main road)
Tramo 10: Barranco Riachuelo - El Cerecillo (15,2 km)
Tramo 11: El Cerecillo - La Polarda (20,7 km; ends 1 km from Vivac de la Polarda)
Tramo 12: La Polarda - La Roza (16,9 km; begins 1 km from Vivac de la Polarda)
Tramo 13: La Roza - Piedra Negra (11,2 km)
Tramo 14: Piedra Negra - El Toril (19,2 km)
Tramo 15: El Toril - Las Chorreras (10,2 km; albergue Puerto de la Ragua  or this web half way, quite off track)
Tramo 16: Las Chorreras - Postero Alto (21,4 km; ends in fully equiped refugio Postero Alto)
Tramo 17: Postero Alto - Peña Partida (16 km; begins in fully equiped refugio Postero Alto)
Tramo 18: Peña Partida - La Hortichuela (14,5 km)
Tramo 19: La Hortichuela - Centro de Visitantes ´El Dornajo´ (17,1 km; ends 1 km from hotel el Dornajo)

GPS TRACKS DETAILS

We would like to mention that all credits go to the walkers and cyclists that put the GPS information on the internet to share their enthousiasm!

The complete trail on wikiloc by Santiago Sánchez Legaza who did the route on mountain bike. He also made a complete altitude profile and map which you can also see on his forum. (thanks Santiago!)

Stage 1 on wikiloc by multicolor
Stage 2 on wikiloc by zimbo
Stage 3 on wikiloc by zimbo
Stage 4 on wikiloc by zimbo or by trosdejos
Stage 5 on wikiloc by zimbo or by trosdejos
Stage 6 on wikiloc by zimbo
Stage7 on wikiloc by zimbo
Stage 8 on wikiloc by zimbo
Stage 12 on wikiloc by pacoxix
Stages 12 and 13 (with circular walk connection over the Cerro del Buitre) by trosdejos
we have not found individual tracks of the stages 14, 15 16, 18 and 19
Stage 17 on wikiloc by trosdejos

BOOKS or LIBROS

- English topo guide on the Sulayr
- Spanish topo guide on the Sulayr
- Sulayr Los Caminos de la Luz (photo book Penibética)
- All stage descriptions and maps by Nevasport (a Spanish summary on rapidshare)

FREE CAMPING or ACAMPADA LIBRE

The Sierra Nevada Parque Nacional has put its camping guidelines in this paper: normativa de acampada. Officially you have to inform the park authorities on your camping plans. This is the paper you need to fill in: notificación de acampada nocturna

MAPS

Use the scroll bars to move the map.




map from Guía Turistica de La Alpujarra Granadina

Related links:
http://www.senderosulayr.es/ a Spanish blog with Sulayr related articles

related keywords:
books, boeken, livries, buchern, sendero, footpath, langeafstandwandelpaden, lange-afstand-wandelpaden, LAW, Grote Routepaden, Sentier de Grande Randonée, GR-Fernwanderwege, wandelen, wandern, mapa, kaart, alpujarras, trektocht, B&B, hotel

Alpujarran handcraft or artesanía

The Alpujarras has always been a quite isolated and highly self-supporting region. Depending on their own resources, the textile, the pottery, the esparto products and woodcraft are therefor all part of the Alpujarran heritage.
Many local craftsmen are member of the Asociación de Artesanos de la Alpujarra, which has a good website. Apart from members of this AAA, there are more people making beautiful products, like Andrés Marvi a guitar builder in Ferreirola and Jeronimo Ruíz making esparto products in Turón.

With our intention to inform the readers about the Alpujarras we decided to do some research. The result is the list below which we hope to be usefull for those interested in Alpujarran handcraft. Let us know who we forgot.

TEXTILE or TELARES

Hilacar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taller textil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Rueca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taller del Telar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Urdimbre de Aracne . . . . . . . Telar Artesano Alpujarreño . . . . Gazalia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Ana María Martínez . . . . . . . . . . . Mercedes Carroscosa Martín . . . . Ernestina Rodriguez Guardia  . . . . Nade Favreau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fransisca Cristina Menchón Martín Estrella Fernández Miranda . . . . . . Fátima Carrilero Soares . . . . . . . . . Maria Dolores Aguado . . . . . . . . .	Bubión Pampaneira Pampaneira Bubión Capileira Trevélez Pitres (958 343168) Ugíjar (958 767 048)		.

POTTERY or ALFARERÍA   -  

Cerámica Abuxarra  . . . . . . . . . . . Cerámica Ángel Vera . . . . . . . . . . Mosaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alizares y Proyectos Decorativos . Taller Dolores Chaves . . . . . . . . . Azularte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alfarería Colella López . . . . . . . . Cerámica González Castellon . . . . Cerámica Orellana . . . . . . . . . . . . Cerámica Tradicional Española. . .	Alberto Recio Mayoral . . . . . . . . Ángel Vera Ruiz . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeannette Claessen . . . . . . . . . . . Fátima Quesada de la Cuesta . . . Maria Isabel Orantes Bermejo . . Diego Pérez Sánchez . . . . . . . . . Manuel González López . . . . . . . D. Rafael Orellana Bueno . . . . . . Lars Pranger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Atalbéitar Bayacas Bayacas Pitres Murtas Carataunas Fondón (950 513 386) Alhabia (Almería) (950 642 029) Órgiva Ctr de las Barreras, s/n Mecina Fondales (958 857402)

WOOD or MADERA Anea - Fernando Martín González Palacios - Capileira
Taller Artesanal Abén Aboo - María Rodríguez Barbero - Mecína Bombarón
Taller de Carpintería Tradicional - Miguel López Álvarez - Capilerilla
Carpintería Mudéjar - Miguel López Alvárez - Pitres (958857331)

GLASS or VIDRIO Meriglass S.C.A. . . . . . . . . . . .  Juan González Barrios . . . Alhama de Almería (Almería)
Tienda-taller de vidrio y forja  . .  Ester Mayorca Gómez . . .Pampaneira

OTHER

Taller Puga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alhama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Artesanía de metal Forjandarax Metal y Forja Antonio Heredia Taller de piel J. Brown . . . . . . Paca López . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spanish Danceware . . . . . . . . Marvi  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Despensa . . . . . . . . . . . . . Juan Bermúdez Heredia . . . . . . Taller de cuero . . . . . . . . . . . .	José Miguel Puga Puertas Nieves Viñegla Sáez . . . . Ignacio suarez Morales . . José Manuel Moreno . . . Andrés D. Marvi . . . . . . Jesús Díaz Peláez . . . . . .	Órgivaxx . . . . . . . . . . Órgiva . . . . . . . . . . . . Fondón (Almería) . . . Órgiva 958785751 . . Capileira . . . . . . . . . . Cádiar . . . . . . . . . . . . Ferreirola . . . . . . . . . Ferreirola  . . . . . . . . . Válor 958 851 940 Lanjarón 958 772 006 Atalbeitar 958343282		mixed materials juwelery or joyas metal forge o forja metal forge (video) leather or cuero mosaicos flamenco dresses handcrafted guitars leather

DRIED GRASS or ESPARTO Taller Jeronimo Ruíz - Turón
Javier Bermúdez Heredia - Lanjarón C/ Villa de Alacua, 3 (617 881952)

Making devices of esparto grass is typical of the Alpujarras. A few alpujarreños still master this handcraft. During cultural weeks or festivals workshops are organised, so that anybody interested has a change the learn this craft. Esparto goods can be bought in the Bodega Piedras Blanca in Torvizcón and a few shops in Trevélez and Pampaneira. In Torvizcón, Augustín Góngora (958 852029) has a small esparto museum of his own private collection.

Related articles.
- Guía turística de las Alpujarras

Related links.
- Asociación de Artesanos de la Alpujarra (AAA)
- Artesanía in the web of Mancomunidad de pueblos de la Alpujarra Granadina
- Artesanía Pampaneira
- Artesanía in Granada leaflet (pdf) - diputación de Granada
- Esparte.es (English version)

related keywords: handicrafts, overview, list, overzicht, lijst, liste, handwerk, werkplaatsen, gitaar bouwer, artisanat, glas, hout, kleden, keramiek, sieraden, riet, verre, bois, tapis, céramiques, bijoux, roseau, glas, holz, keramik, teppiche, schmuck, schilf, blacksmith, smederij

Crocus nevadensis

The Crocus nevadensis is the earliest flower of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. This azafrán de Sierra Nevada, member of the iris family, has the amazing ability to thrive in the late winter or early spring, even where there is still quite a lot of snow. In sheltered spots, it may start to bloom in February. We saw a large number of these solitary white flowers on the 1st of April, between Trevélez and the Alto de Chorrillo, at an altitude of about 2,200 metres. A few years ago, we saw many of them while climbing up from the Puerto de la Ragua to the Chullo. The circumstances were similar; the last day of March, the same altitude and close to the snow line. This white or mountain saffron was first described by the Spanish botanist Mariano de Amo y Mora (1809-1894), and has therefore the official name Crocus nevadensis Amo. The addition ´nevadensis´ can be misleading though, as it not only grows in the Sierra Nevada. It can be enjoyed in other mountainous areas in southern Spain and in northern Africa as well. As it does not grow in other countries, it is an endemism iberonorteafricano.

Sierra Nevada - Oficinas y Centros de visitantes

Oficial website of the national park Sierra Nevada
http://reddeparquesnacionales.mma.es/en/parques/sierra/index.htm

Visitor centres of the Junta de Andalucía:

Centro de Visitantes ´El Dornajo´
Ctra. de Sierra Nevada, Km. 23
18160 Güéjar Sierra (Granada)
Tfno: 958 340625
e-mail: alhori@imfe.es
More information on this Centro de Visitantes ´El Donrajo´ on Nevasport
Opening hours see schedule:

Centro de Visitantes ´Laujar de Andarax´
Ctra. Laujar de Andarax-Berja Km. 1
04470 Laujar de Andarax (Almería)
Tfno: 950 513548
Opening hours see schedule:

Punto de información Pampaneira
Plaza de la Libertad, s/n.
18411 Pampaneira (Granada).
Tfno: 958 763127
e-mail: nevadensis@arrakis.es
Horario: lunes a sábado 10.00 – 14.00 / 17.00 – 19.00, domingos 10.00 – 15.00 horas
Opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays 10.00 – 14.00 / 17.00 – 19.00, Sundays 10.00–15.00 hours

Other tourist information points:

Oficina de Información turística Lanjarón
Dirección: Avda. de Madrid, s/n
Tfno: 958 770462
e-mail: turismo@lanjaron.es
Horario de invierno: 10.00 - 14.00 / 16.00 - 20.00 horas
Horario de verano: 10.00 - 14.00 / 16.30 - 20.30 horas
Winter opening hours: 10.00 - 14.00 / 16.00 - 20.00 hours
Summer opening hours: 10.00 - 14.00 / 16.30 - 20.30 hours

Oficina Turismo Alpujarra Órgiva:
C/ Fuente Mariano, nº, 1
Tfno: 958 784484

Punto de Información turistíca Trevélez:
Tfno: 650039185

Administration offices:

Oficina del Parque Nacional
Ctra. antigua de Sierra Nevada, Km. 7
18191 Pinos Genil (Granada)
Tel.: 958 026300
Fax: 958 026310
E mail: sierra.nevada@oapn.mma.es

Oficina administrativa de Canjáyar
C/ General González n.º 45
04450 Canjáyar (Almería)
Tfno: 950 608312

Related links:
- Web Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada Oficinas y centros de visistantes
- Tourist boards