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

Walking connections between Lobras and Tímar

On some walking routes in the Alpujarras you cross a river where there is no bridge. In general this should not be a problem, but at this moment of writing this can not be taken for granted. Today we found out that the rivers can be so swollen as a result of the heavy rains the past weeks, that it might be difficult or impossible to get to the other side. This we experienced while walking the GR7 between Lobras and Tímar, when we tried to cross the Río Tímar. Luckily there is now also another walking route connecting these two lovely villages, the path along the Acequia de los Castaños. In the past this was the principal walking connection. Every year less people went from one village to the other on foot, so the path became overgrown and in the end impenetrable. Thanks to an employment creation programme, this old connection was restored last year. The last day of the ´Taller de Empleo´ was on the 29th of December, right during the ´temporal´or spell of bad winter weather. Unfortunately some improvements did not withstand the heavy rains, but it is possible to follow the route without any problem. Luckily they made a proper bridge to cross the Río Tímar close to the village of Tímar. The route is not signposted, but from Lobras it is easy to find. At a crossing where you would go down towards the river following the GR7, you continue straight on along the irrigation channel. To find the route from Tímar is less easy, you need to find the old camino real next to the school building. This map gives an idea. We found it on the website with a lot of useful information on Tímar. They suggest a circular route, which will be lovely again in a few weeks or months when less water is running through the river. We can recommend the new route to everybody walking this part of the GR7. It is a more beautiful path and easier because you can avoid the steep climbing and ascending in order to cross the river.

Mesón Los Granaos in Lobras

Two of our walking routes pass through Lobras. Apart from the ´bar de pensionistas´ which was hardly ever open, there was no possibility to have a drink or a bite in this pretty village We are therefor pleased with the new initiative of the town hall to open a bar-restaurant. From now on, we will suggest our guests to do one of the Lobras routes in a weekend and have lunch in Mesón ´Los Granaos´. This establishment, which can be found in the former school building, opened a couple of months ago. The word is spreading quickly that Miguel and Ángeles, ´los Granaos´, serve good food at lunchtime on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Miguel is in charge of the meat from the grill and they offer a choice of dishes wish fresh fish and tapas. The place is nicely decorated and there is a terrace to enjoy the fabulous views of the Contraviesa. For groups special arrangements can be made on other days as well. For more information Miguel can be contacted on 679-793678.

Semana Cultural and Fiestas Patronales Lobras 2009

The semana cultural in Lobras starts on Sunday the 23rd of August at 10.00 hours with a ´mercadillo tradicional´. At 21.30 hours D. Jaime Ribot Martín will give a speech, which will be followed by a performance of Candiota, the Alpujarran association of traditional songs or ´troveros´. On Monday there are different workshops, tournaments and contests. On Tuesday the book ´La Guerra Civil en Lobras´ will be presented by the author D. Jaime Ribot Martín at 12.00 hours and there will be a theatre performance by Teatro Maravilla at 19.30 hours. On Wednesday there will be more workshops, the final of the ´paulo´ competition, and at 22.00 hours the women of Las Moreas, the ´asociación de mujeres´ of Lobras, will sing traditional songs. Thursday there will be a ´feria del mediodía´, a paella on the village square and traditional andalusian music by ´ Por Copla´ at 22.00 hours. Friday the 28th of August is the day of the patron saint of Lobras, San Agustín, which will mark the height of the festive week. At 12.00 hours there will be a service in his honour and his carving will be taken out in procesion at 20.30 hours. Saturday there will be a concert by the band San Blas from Cádiar in the morning and during the ´feria del mediodía´. There will be a music and dancing on the Era until midnight, after which the fiesta will be closed with fireworks and ´churros con chocalate´.

Jornadas Etnológicas de Lobras y Tímar 2009

The cultural organization of Lobras and Tímar organizes for the fifth time ethnological days. This year they will take place in the school of Lobras on the 1st and 2nd of May. The theme is wine: ´a paseo por la historia del vino´, translated as a ´stroll through the history of wine´. The programme can be found on the website of the Asociacíon Cultural y Etnológica ´Acequia de los Castaños´.