Inauguration Centro de Interpretación Minero in Tímar

Mining and the consequent transformation of metals form an important part of the history of the Alpujarra. Copper, bronze, iron, lead, zinc and mercury (cinnabar) are examples of the abundant mineral wealth of the area. A mining boom took place from 1910 to 1936. On our walk ´Tímar por los Riscos´ you pass the ruins of two mercury mines. Before reaching Tímar you see what is left of the Minas Rodríguez-Acosta (waypoints 06 and 07 on our map) and next to the cemetery you see the Minas de Retama known es ´La Fábrica de los Italianos´ as it was owned by Italians (waypoint 08 on our map) . Both sites were declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 2007. As mercury mining constitutes an important part of the industrial heritage of the village, the local authorities have strived for the realization of of a mining museum for many years. The first result is a mining interpretation centre in the former school building of Tímar. Thanks to the post ´Centro de Interpretación Minero´ of Rafatours we learned that it will be officially inaugurated this coming Saturday the 26th of February at 12.00 hours. The Centro de Interpretación Minero can be visited by appointment.



Related articles:
- Dutch painter leaves Tímar
- El Patrimonio Histórico de la Alpujarra y Río Nacimiento; a chapter of this book is dedicated to mining in the area

Related links:
- Fábricas y minas de mercurio, a lot of information on the mercury mines of Tímar from the website of Pilar Camas las Heras and Pedro Luis Fuentes Camas
- Propuesta de ´Museo del mercurio de la Alpujarra, a study of a mercury museum as presented in 2005
- Centro Etnográfico y del Mercurio, listo en septiembre, article by Rafael Víllchez pubished in the Ideal 23-10-2010
- El anejo de Tímar dedica un museo a las minas del mercurio, article by Rafael Vílchez published in the Ideal 27-02-2011
- Slide show Inauguración Centro Interpretativo Tímar of Rafatours

Related key words: interpretive centre, kwikmijnen, alpujarras, sierra nevada, wandelen, wandelingen, wanderung, B&B, hotel, bérchules, trektocht, hiking, trekking, standplaatsvakantie

Fonda-Museo de Gerald Brenan in Yegen inaugurated

Before Gerald Brenan moved into his house in Yegen in 1920, he stayed in the village inn known as Pensión ´Manuel Juliana´. This boarding house on the main road (Carretera 16) continued to offer lodgings until the mid-eighties. Brenan stayed in this posada again in 1974 with Alfredo Amestoy Eguiguren who made the documentary of Brenan called ´Agua pasada´. They spent a few weeks in Yegen about which Alfredo Amestoy wrote: "Dormíamos en la misma habitación, en la posada de Yegen, un dormitorio sin cristales en la ventana, sin retrete. Yo me encargaba de llevarle y traerle el orinal al ya anciano Brenan que rezaba al acostarse." The 23rd of June 2009, the town hall of Alpujarra de la Sierra bought this former posada with the idea to turn it into a Casa Museo dedicated to the hispanist that universalized the village of Yegen through his book ´South from Granada´. Internationally Brenan is best known for his publication ´The Spanish Labyrinth´: An Account of the Social and Political Background of the Spanish Civil War, first published in 1943.
Thirteen students of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Granada made suggestions for a ´Casa-lugar para un Nuevo Brenan´. Two weeks ago the Fonda-Museo de Gerald Brenan opened its doors with an ´encuentro universitario´ during which the students were invited to explain their proposals and models for an Espacio Brenan. The result of their projects are exhibited in the new Casa Museo which can be visited from Monday to Friday from 16.00 to 18.00 hours. Apart from the exhibition nothing can be seen yet that has any relation with the famous hispanist. But looking through one of the old windows of one of the ´dormitorios´, you can do nothing else but wonder if it was the room in which the young traveller stayed, read and mused about his life and future... Many visitors will stil need to bow their heads before entering a room as the doorposts are original, thus very low. The shutters of the windows are of wood, without glass just as the journalist Alfredo Amestoy wrote in his article for El Mundo. The cane ceilings are still there and the stables cleaned, but luckily untouched. This makes the building just right for a Fonda-Museo. With the purchase, the stripping, plastering and opening important steps have been taken. We hope that through the years the local authorities find the means and collaboration to fill the new Fonda Museo in Yegen with books, reproductions of photographs and show films and documentaries like ´Mirada de Brenan´ and ´Agua Pasada´ of Alfredo Amestoy.

Related articles:
- El municipio compra hoy la fonda donde se hospedó el hispanista Gerald Brenan, article from Granada Hoy written by R. Fernández.
- Yegen convierte en museo la antigua fonda donde se hospedó Brenan, article from the Ideal written by Rafael Vílchez.
- Don Geraldo, Uno de los Nuestros, article from El Mundo in memory of Gerald Brenan written by Alfredo Amestoy.

Related links:
- Sendero Local ´Gerald Brenan´, Yegen
- Ruta literaria por el sendero de Gerald Brenan

Related keywords: Alpujarras, Sierra Nevada, wandelen, wandelingen, trektocht, hiking, trekking, Berchules, B&B, hotel, wanderungen

Rutas temáticas del Patrimonio Histórico en la Alpujarra Alta

A new publication of the ethnologist Agustín Sánchez Hita is a fact. This book Rutas Temáticas del Patrimonio Histórico – La Arquitectura Tradicional en la Alpujarra Alta was commissioned by the ADR Alpujarra-Sierra Nevada and presented in Pitres on Wednesday the third of May. This well documented guide gives suggestions for routes to get to know the natural and cultural heritage of a part of the high Alpujarra. Bérchules forms part of the high Alpujarra as well, but this guide comprises information on thirteen better known villages: Pampaneira, Bubión, Capileira, Pitres, Capilerilla, Mecina Fondales, Mecinilla, Fondales, Ferreirola, Atalbéitar, Pórtugos, Busquístar and Trevélez. In these villages there are new panels with information on the most interesting historic buildings or elements with a map to find them. Unfortunately there are no English translations of the texts for the visitors that can´t read Spanish. There are a limited number of copies available of Rutas Temáticas del Patrimonio Histórico that will be distributed amongst local libraries and town halls. We have this publication with thematic routes in the library of ´El Paraje´ and can make copies of parts of the book for the guests that would be interested.
Agustín Sánchez Hita is one of the speakers of the Jornadas sobre Paisaje y Patrimonio de la Alpujarra that are going to be held in Pitres the 11th and 12th of June. On Friday the 11th of June at 19.00 hours he will make up a critical balance of the present situation regarding the historical heritage of the Alpujarra.

Related articles:
El Patrimonio Histórico de la Alpujarra y Río Nacimiento

Related links:
- Article from the Ideal by Rafael Vílchez: La arquitectura y patrimonio histórico de la Alpujarra Alta son recopilados en una guía
- Blog de la Taha: nuevos paneles informativos

Jornadas sobre Paisaje y Patrimonio de La Alpujarra

The Asociación Cultural Abuxarra and the Club Unesco Alpujarra Granadina have organized two days with an interesting programme on the landscape and heritage of the Alpujarra. These Jornadas sobre Paisaje y Patrominio de La Alpujarra will be held on Friday the 11 th and Saturday the 12th of June in the Salón de Actos del Ayuntamiento de La Tahá in Pitres.

VIERNES, 11 DE JUNIO

17:30 • Inauguración oficial a cargo de D. Pedro Benzal Molero, delegado provincial de la Consejería de Cultura de la Junta de Andalucía; Dña. María del Rosario Fernández Quirantes, alcaldesa del Ayuntamiento de La Taha; D. Ángel Bañuelos Arroyo, presidente del Club UNESCO Alpujarra- Granada, y D. Adolfo García de Viana Cárdenas, presidente de la Asociación Cultural Abuxarra.

18:00 • Dña. Yolanda Jiménez Olivencia, directora del Instituto de Desarrollo Regional de la Universidad de Granada, profesora de la Universidad de Granada, Departamento de Análisis Regional, directora del grupo de investigación “Paisaje, Planificación Territorial y Desarrollo Local”. “El paisaje como recurso de desarrollo”.

19:00 • D. Agustín Sánchez Hita, etnólogo. “El patrimonio histórico de La Alpujarra. Balance crítico”.

20:00 • Copa de vino.

SÁBADO, 12 DE JUNIO

10:30 • D. José Luis Rosúa Campos, coordinador de la Licenciatura en Ciencias Ambientales de la Universidad de Granada, responsable de la Cátedra UNESCO de Desarrollo Sostenible y Medio Ambiente de la Universidad de Granada. “Biodiversidad agraria y paisaje”.

11:30 • Café.

12:00 • D. José Castillo Ruiz, profesor de Historia del Arte de la Universidad de Granada, director del Observatorio del Patrimonio Histórico Español. “Patrimonio Histórico y sociedad: la importancia de las personas”.

13:00 • D. Juan Carlos García de los Reyes, arquitecto y urbanista GR-Arquitectos, redactor de los PGOU (en tramitación) de La Taha, Juviles, Lanjarón, Órgiva, Pórtugos, Bérchules, Lobras y Almegíjar. “Estrategias para la protección, ordenación y gestión del paisaje en La Alpujarra”.

17:00 • D. José López Gallardo, diputado de Turismo de la Diputación de Granada. “Paisaje y paisanaje en el turismo de la Alpujarra”.

18:00 • D. Juan Manuel Becerra, arquitecto jefe del Servicio de Protección de la Dirección General de Bienes Culturales de la Consejería de Cultura. “La protección del paisaje en el marco de la Ley 14/2007 del Patrimonio Histórico de Andalucía”.

19:00 • Mesa redonda.

20:00 • Acto de clausura.

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

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

Carlos Cano - Pasodoble Torero a Gerald Brenan

José Carlos Cano Fernández (28.01.1946 - 19.12.2000) known as Carlos Cano is a famous copla and ballad singer from Granada. After thinking about one of his chansons for the music of the day, we stumbled on a song in which the text is dedicated to Gerald Brenan and the Alpujarras. In stead of selecting a music of the day song, we decided to write this post and incorporate the lyrics.



Pasodoble Torero a Gerald Brenan

Le voy a dedicar con to mi corazón un pasodoble a Gerald Brenan.
Pasodoble de sol de clavel reventón como si un torero fuera.

Y que nadie me hable de Londón ni leches de britin ni cambrí.
Yegen, Alpujarra, Andalucía, Granada , su alegría, y rosas de Alhaurín.
Y dirle bajico, mu bajico limón, azulina y yerbagüena.
Y la casa encalá y el vino de Albondón y una sillica en la puerta.

Y a las güenas tardes tenga usted, don Gerardo Vaya animación
Mucho forastero últimamente, que no deja la gente vivir ni a Dios

¡Ay! Alpujarra, Alpujarra, Qué grandes son las estrellas
Más grandes los corazones olé y viva Gerald Brenan.
Cierro los ojos y te siento aunque de ti yo esté lejos.
¡Ay! Alpujarra, Alpujarra, ¡ay! Alpujarra

Yo te voy a cantar de lo jondo de mí y con palabras del pueblo.
Tú que fuiste Sultán de la Ciencia ilustrá. Un trovero alpujarreño
Y te voy a cantar regorviura, prenda, algarabitos y balate
Menda, capuana, jamucuco, olé y de trabuco: ¡Viva tu madre!

¡Ay! Alpujarra, Alpujarra, Qué grandes son las estrellas
Más grandes los corazones olé y viva Gerald Brenan.
Cierro los ojos y te siento aunque de ti yo esté lejos.
¡Ay! Alpujarra, Alpujarra, ¡ay! Alpujarra


Related articles:
- Sendero Local ´Gerald Brenan´, Yegen (13 december 2008)
- Ruta literaria por el sendero de Gerald Brenan (27 november 2008)

related keywords: musica, muziek, musique, musik

Music of the day (archive)

INTRODUCTION:
Regular visitors of our blog may have noticed the music of the day player in the side column.
The music of the day idea was born during the long wet winter of 2010. On the one hand, we like music and play a variety of Spanish and international music in our small guest house. On the other hand, we like to put our energy in our website and blog when the weather does not really permit us to be outside and check walks, work on the land or do maintenance on the house.
Over the years, and educated by guests our collection of classic and modern Spanish music has grown. Now we enjoy searching on the internet pieces of music that we play regularly and that we think to be special. By saving the music items in this archive and giving them links to performers and authors, we think that over a period of time a nice, El Paraje archive may grow.
We have chosen to cross the Alpujarras boundaries with the subject music.

THE TRADITIONAL MUSIC OF THE ALPUJARRAS:
The traditional Alpujarras music or ´musica tradicional de la Alpujarra´ is related to harvest songs, religious songs and songs of trades. In 2010 the Festival de musica tradicional de la Alpujarra will be organized in Almócita on the 8th of August. (see article)
Some we found on internet.
- a video of the performance of Grupo Zarzamora at the XXIV Festival de musica tradicional de la Alpujarra in Rubite 14th August 2005 (with a typical long alpujarran introduction!).
- music of this slideshow with musica tradicional alpujareña on alcolea.ning.com.
- 'El Pajarillo' Interpretada por el Centro de Educación de Adultos de Mecina (from http://www.taha.es/)
- 'Romance de Galán y García' Cantado por María Pérez Salguero, de Mecina (from http://www.taha.es/)
- Guitarras en la Alpujarra of Paco Santiago Gonzalez
- poster 2006
- videos taha musica de la alpujarra 2010 with taha choir ´los compadres´and more´

THE ARCHIVE:
play : Enrique Morente: Solea de la ciencia - flamenco 
play : Michel Camilo y Tomatito: rom within - piano guitar jazz 
play : Pancho Cespedes: vida loca - ballad 
play : Miguel Poveda: buenas intenciones - flamenco 
play : Niño Josele : when I fall in love - (acc. jazz guitar)
play : Estopa and Rosario : run run - popular 
play : Malú:  Diles - popular 
play : Performer unknown:  Danza espanola oriental Enrique Granados - classical piano 
play : Amaral : El universo sobre mi - popular 
play : Ismael Serrano : Ya nada es lo que era - ballad 
play : Nina Pastori : Ave Maria - 
play : Niño Josele : waltz for debby - (acc. jazz guitar)
play : Pata Negra : blues de los niños - (popular)
play : Rosana : Tormenta de arena - (popular) (songtext)
play : Manuel de Falla : danza del fuego - (classical music) (video1) (video2)
play : Nenan Daconte : tenia tanto que darte - (popular) (video)
play : Pepe Habichuela : Mi tierra - (flamenco guitar)
play : Tomatito : Dulce Manantial - (flamenco guitar with ´palmas´)
play : Diego el Cigala y Bebo Valdés: Lagimas Negras - (cuban flamenco fusion )
play : Anouar Brahem - Les Jardins de Ziryab - (modern arab lute )
play : Paco Peña y - Eduardo Falu - Danza cordobesa - (Spanish guitar)
play : Pablo y Manu - You had a bad day - (OT 2008 popular)
play : Montse Cortés and Vicente Amigo - Oda a la guitarra - (flamenco)
play : Paco Santiago Gonzalez - Choro de la Alpujarra - (guitar)
play : Anna Belén y Juan Valerrama - Envidia - (ballad)
play : Andres Segovia - Asturias (Isaac Albéniz) (classic spanish guitar)
play : Camarón de la isla y Paco de Lucia - Bulerias (flamenco)
play : Virginia Maestro - Lunas Rotas (ballad)
play : Alex Ubago - No te rindes (popular)
play : Eduardo Paniagua- Fiesta de Santa María (medieval)
play : Pasión Vega- Maria se bebe de las calles (ballad)
play : Sergio Dalma - No me digas que no (popular)
play : El Lebrijano with Orquestra Arabigo Andaluza (CD Casablanca)- Ay por dios (arabo - andalusian)
play : Narciso Yepes (orchestra unknown) - Concierto de Aranjuez (adagio) - composer: Joaquin Rodrigo (classical music) (see video)
play : Sabina - Y nos dieron las diez (popular ranchera)
play : Lola Flores - Ay, pena, penita pena (copla) (see video ! )
play : Gerardo Nuñez - A la Nana (lullaby) (non traditional flamenco guitar)
play : Miguel Poveda and Mariza - meu fado (fado -flamenco duet from the film Fado of Carlos Saura)
play : John Williams - recuerdo de la Alhambra, composer:Tárrega (classic Spanish guitar)
play : Chambao - ahí estas tú (popular) (more on listengo)
play : Rosana - el talismán (popular) (more on listengo)
play : Norbert Kraft - Sevilla, composer: Isaac Albéniz, (classical Spanish guitar)
play : Vicente Amigo - ciudad de las ideas (flamenco guitar) (see video on this blog) (more on listengo)

Related articles:
- Carlos Cano - Pasodoble Torero a Gerald Brenan
- Vicente Amigo guitarist
- Bebo y Cigala

Related links:
- The Alexander Music School in Ferreirola Alpujarras
- Guitarras en la Alpujarra - Paco Santiago Gonzalez
- Discografía Alpujarreña
- Ravenna Flamenco - a multimedia magazine for the anglophone flamenco guitar aficionado
- The flamenco world

related keywords: musica, muziek, musique, musik

Escudo Casa Claudio in Bérchules

In Bérchules there is one house with a coat of arms on the facade. It can be found in the Calle Real, close to the Plaza de Abastos. This coat of arms is close to entrance door of house number 1, known as Casa Claudio. It is part of the historic heritage and was included in the list of historic elements of the ADR Alpujarra, for which Agustín Sánchez Hita made an inventory a couple of years ago. The description of the ´escudo de armas´ says that it is engraved in marble and that it is divided in four fields. As we can see on the photograph we see on the upper left a castle, on the upper right a double eagle, on the lower left a goat underneath a tree, and on the lower right five padlocks. On the vertical band that divides the different fields we see lilies and on the horizontal band goblets. In the text of the website of the ADR we can also read that this decorative element is badly conserved. We suppose that it has been cleaned not to long ago as everything is clearly recognizable at the moment. No historic information is given on the website of the ADR Alpujarra, and we are curious to find out if anybody knows more about the background of this ´escudo nobilario´ or ´blasón de la familia´.

Related articles:
- Links on Berchules and Alcutar

Slide show of old photographs of Cadiar

The area around Bérchules is well known for the number of threshing circles or ´eras´. Guests often ask what they are for. As we have assisted probably the last ´parva´ of Bérchules in 2002, we are able to explain the process. Nevertheless we were pleasantly surprised to find a photo album on the internet with old photographs of Cádiar. Antonio Medina Santiago has put varias photo albums of Cádiar on ´windows live´. The slide show ´recopilacion de fotos del recuerdo´ took our special interest. 227 Pictures of life in Cádiar as it once was. Forgotten agricultural cores like the ´parva´ come back to live. On this photograph the ´trillar con mulos´ is shown. Gracias Antonio.

Sculptures Manuel Martín at Expo Cádiar

Manuel Martín Quesada is one of the exhibitors at the Expo Cádiar 2009. At the entrance of the fair part of his sculptural project ´Por la memoria viva de la Alpujarra´ can be seen. This life-size representation of the Alpujarran agricultural heritage that is slowly disappearing, is unique for its combination of colour, shape and expresion. Outside ´la trilla´ can be seen, translated as ´the threshing´ which is always called ´la parva´ in the Alpujarra. In the background there are a few goats which are part of the representation of ´pastoreo con cabras´. A shepherd with more goats can be seen inside where Manuel Martín has another stand. Here we picked up a brochure on this magnificent project in which the sculptor explains his ideas and in which he gives information on the materials he used. This same text can be found on the blogsite with news and events in Cádiar. More information on the artist and sculptor who lives and works in Narila, can be found on the Manuel Martín website.


Related links:
- ExpoCadiar website
- Por la memoria via on the ExpoCadiar 2009 website

related keywords: art, kunst, art

Legend of the ´Fuente de las Carmelas´ lives on

The last couple of months, a number of fountains in Bérchules and Alcútar have been done up. The ´Fuente de las Carmelas´, the drinking fountain at the entrance of Bérchules, looks very nice again. The water of this fountain is renowned for its excellent quality and it is therefor quite appropiate that the fountain has been renovated in such an attractive way. It has new ornamental tiles, but the old legend lives on. The story goes that there was once a Carmelite priest who found himself a fiancée after having drunk from this fountain. He got married and left the village, but this fountain therefor got the name ´Fuente de las Carmelas´. This is what the text on the tiles says:

No digas nunca de este agua no beberé, pues esta fuente que aquí ves

Es fuente de la virtud y tiene tal magnitud que a beber su agua invita,

lo confirmó un "Carmelita" que cura fue desta Iglesia,

y soltero que la beba con intención de casarse,

¡no falla pues al instante... Novia tiene! ¡ya lo ves!

Sendero Local ´Molino Altero´ de Trevélez

The ´camino al molino altero´ is number four of the nineteen walks in the guide ´Senderos Locales de la Alpujarra´ (see also our post of 18-02-2009). More information and the GPS track of this Sendero Local ´Molino Altero´ can be found on the website of Alpujarra Turística of the Mancomunidad. It is a short stroll of two kilometres to the river, which could be a nice walk to do with children. The starting point where you find an information panel on the route, is at the square of the Barrio Medio. On here it says that you leave the village next to the ´polideportivo´ or sports ground. To get there – this is not explained - you go right to pass the town hall and the bar-restaurant of La Fragua. Continue straight on into Calle Posada, passing hotel La Fragua II. At the end of this street you bear left to find the first wooden waypost. From this point on you can follow the green-and-white waymarks to the river where you see what is left of a flour mill. On the website of the ADR Alpujarra it is explained that after a thunderstorm in the sixties of the twentieth century, the Molino altero got almost completely buried by all the water and stones that came down from the Barranco Peñabón. From this point we see to the right the Cerro de Peñabón, one of the many attractive aspects of this pleasant short walk. You return to the village on a broad track that leads you back to the church square. You need to be aware that the starting point and the returning point are not the same. If you want to make this walk longer, you could follow the Camino del Horcajo at the left bank of the Río Trevélez and continue on the small path parallel to the river.



Related article:
- Senderos locals de Trevélez

Ruined mill below Fondales

This year there is a lot more water to be seen and heard everywhere compared to previous years. Walking through the Taha valley with guests today, we enjoyed the sight and the sound of the torrent below. In the past, the water of the Trevélez river powered numerous mills of which the ruins can still be seen. According to Turgranada, this old flour mill below Fondales was considered in its time one of the most representative works of the medieval architecture of the Alpujarra. But unlike the mill next to the Panjuila bridge which is on the list of ´BIC: Bienes de Interés Cultural´, this one is not officially part of the local heritage. On the website of the ADR Alpujarra it is explained that this mill the ´molino de fondales´ was built in the XVIII or XIX century.

Publication on the ´Ruta Medieval´

A small guide has been published on the ´Ruta Medieval´, an interesting and attractive route that was waymarked in 2006. This is a linear short walking route through the historic site of the ´Alpujarra media´ and the Tahá valley. In this protected area there´s an extensive network of medieval paths. This route of 21 kilometres takes the walker on some paths that were already mentioned in documents drawn up in 1574. The route is divided in four parts and officially starts in Pórtugos and ends in Juviles. It passes through the villages of Atalbéitar, Ferreirola, Busquístar, Cástaras and Nieles. There are numerous signs on the route that give historic and cultural information on the water channels, the threshing floors, the steep paths, the mines and the old drover´s routes. This same information can be found on the website of Alpujarra Turística of the Mancomunidad and the GPS track of this PR-A 299 can be downloaded from this site as well. The information on the signs along the route, website and in the guide are only in Spanish. Several copies of this guide ´Huellas del medievo en la Alpujarra´ have been distributed over the different town halls and tourist information points to hand out for free to people interested. The tourist information office in Orgiva charges three euros for a copie, but all the information can be found on the website of Alpujarra Turística as well. Of course the route can be walked in both directions. For the people who would like to walk the Ruta Medieval from east to west, we have a map and description in Spanish, English and Dutch of the first three sections, up to Busquístar. Adding up the extra kilometres to get to Juviles, it is almost half a marathon from ´El Paraje´ to this village as well. There is also a small booklet for children on this route, called ´La Ruta de Mateo´, a copy can be asked for at the different town halls in the area.


Related links:
- gps track data on wikiloc by carlosgps

GR142 Senda de la Alpujarra

There are three long-distance footpaths that cross the area. One of these Gran Recorridos is the E4/GR7, an European route that calls in at Bérchules. The GR240 or Ruta Sulayr is a newly developed LDP that circles the Sierra Nevada and passes just above our Casa Rural. The third LDP, is the GR142 or Senda de la Alpujarra. It runs from Lanjarón to Fiñana, and has a total length of 144 kilometres. It passes through Cádiar, the village we can see from our terrace. Several of our own routes, coincide partly with this Gran Recorrido. Up to today, our routes cover the GR142 from Fondales up to Cádiar. We were curious to continue on this path a bit further westwards, and found a description in Walk! the Alpujarras with Charles Davis that looked interesting. His walk 26 ´Sierra Mecina´ would give us the possibility to get to know another part. Charles Davis promises spectacular views, and after having done this walk, we can defenitely agree on this. Besides, the ´carihuela de Fondales´ that zigzags up after crossing a Roman bridge over the river Trevélez, we consider as one of the most beautiful paths of the GR142 that we are familiar with so far. The gorge is truly spectacular, and walking on both sides of the valley of the river Trevélez we enjoyed immensely on this sunny January day. Nevertheless instead of the nine kilometres mentioned by Charles Davis, the walk turned out to be over twelve kilometres, and you should therefore count on four hours to do this walk. We incorporated this route with a detailed map and a description into our ´walks file´.

Sendero de La Taha

The Consejería de Medio Ambiente gives out a quarterly brochure called ´Acércate a Sierra Nevada´. It has, amongst other things, an agenda with the different festivities in the villages of the Parque Nacional y Parque Natural de Sierra Nevada and a recommendation for a walk in the area. In the last publication ´Invierno 2009´, the recommendation is a walk in the Taha valley, ´Sendero de la Taha´. It starts in Busquístar and has a total length of 9,5 kilometres. It passes through five pictoresque villages, namely Ferreirola, Fondales, Mecinilla, Mecina and Atalbéitar. We checked out this route today, and came to the conclusion that it was a perfect suggestion for a sunny winter day. While there was still a lot of snow to be found around the neighbouring village of Trevélez, in the Taha valley we experienced an early spring day. People were harvesting there olives, oranges were ripe on the trees, the first flowers and trees had opened up, a lot of birds were to be spotted and even a butterfly. It is nice to hear the water of the river Trevélez down below and to pass numerous fountains like the Fuente de Fondales or ´Fuente de la Ermita´ as it is called according the ADR. We enjoyed this walk so much, that we included it into our file, offering our guests a more detailed map and description. While working up the route, we found out that it is one of the official waymarked local walks called ´La Taha de Pitres´, and described briefly in the hiking guide that goes along with a map of Editorial Alpina (walk 9). It is therefore waymarked with wooden posts, but with the time the colours yellow and white of this Pequeño Recorrido, have almost disappeared completely.
 

Sendero Local ´Gerald Brenan´, Yegen

Yegen is one of our neighbouring Alpujarras villages. It has become known by the hispanist Gerald Brenan who gave an affectionate portrait of his life in this village in his book ´South from Granada´. Gerald Brenan was twenty-five when he first arrived in Yegen in 1919. He described vivedly all aspects of village life and gave a rich account of Spain´s vanished past. Don Geraldo loved to wander around in the countryside around Yegen with its views across to the Contraviesa and the sea. One of his favourite afternoon strolls was put into a waymarked circular walk of 3,5 kilometres a few years ago. This ´Sendero Local de Gerald Brenan´ passes wash houses, fountains, ruined mills and a large flat-topped outcrop, called Peñon del Fuerte or Piedra Fuerte. Since they renewed the green-and-white waymarking in 2006, they changed the direction of the walk to anticlockwise. To start the walk you therefor now need to ignore the old small wooden arrows on the walls that read ´Ruta Gerald Brenan´. Instead you go down to the bottom of the village where you find the Fuente Camellona and the first wooden marker post with a white arrow and green-and-white stripes with the name of the walk. At the end of this walk you pass the house he lived in. It can be recognized by a plaque dedicated to this hispanist that “universalized the name of the village, and the customs and the traditions”. When you continue up to the main road, you will see opposite the bus stop a house with number 16. This used to be a ´posada´ or village inn, where ´El Inglés´ stayed before he moved into his house. The town hall is in the process of buying this place with the idea to convert it into a Casa Museo in honour of Don Geraldo.

Related keywords: Alpujarras, Sierra Nevada, wandelen, wandelingen, trektocht, hiking, trekking, Berchules, B&B, hotel, wanderungen