Holiday Rentals,Golf & Walking in Spain · Andalucia · Granada

The Villages of the Valle de Lecrin

You will soon discover the dozen or so little villages that dot this peaceful valley. Like Melegis, Chite, Talara, Pinos del Valle and many more.

Pinos del Valle

This small village is set in beautiful countryside, high above the Beznar reservoir lake and topped by high hills. Life follows the rhythm of nature and the four seasons, starting with the almond blossom in January and February. You can explore it with some delightful walks through olive and orange trees in the direction of Restabal and Albunuelas, or up to the mountain overlooking the village, which is quite easy going.

Saleres

This village has no shops or bars, although local traders regularly set up stalls at the entrance of the village. Local bakeries deliver bread each day. The church is highlighted in guide books as worthy of a visit and it is possible to make some pleasant walks down to the river and into the hillsides above the village.

Restabal

There are several bars and shops in the village, all of which can be found in the area beyond the main square past the bank and town hall. There are excellent walks down to the lake of Beznar and up into the hills. Restabal has the remains of an Arab castle. There is a good restaurant called "Despensa del Valle" & a tapas bar called "Jovi".

Melegis

Is interesting to walk around; it has some imposing buildings, a lovely church and is characterized by the number of orchards within the village itself. Below the village is a maze of small lanes that wind through the orange groves and it is possible to find a ruined Moorish castle at the entrance to the gorge on the Rio Durcal. There's good walking here and up into the hills. There are two small supermarkets in the village and two bakeries (on the main road). There are two bar/restaurants, both on the main road: Los Naranjos is on the lower side of the village and has a very pleasant outside terrace with lovely views, also Nuevo Valle on the opposite side of the road further up the hill, which also has a large outside terrace. Both serve good quality local food and very good tapas.

Conchar

There is only one main road into the village, although there is a track down a small valley at the opposite side of the village. There are no shops or supermarkets here but local traders bring goods by van each day. There is a very good bakery in a small square of Calle Bajo. There are some good walks down the valley from here.

Lecrin (Talara)/Mondujar

There are banks, shops, pharmacy and bars in Lecrin, as well as a small post office. There are two or three Coviran supermarkets where you can buy most things and Bar Garvi on the corner serves good local food. There are a few discos and small nightclubs here.

Chite

The village has one small shop and a small bar. It has a fantastic antiques and bric-a-brac shop called CamelStop in Calle Carniceria (upper barrio) which is owned by an English artist. There are some interesting walks around the village both upper and lower - and a stunning drive down towards the lake to Mojinar. The village is within walking distance of Lecrin.

Murchas

This small village, just off the main road down the valley, has a small supermarket and excellent bakery just off the main square. There are no bars or restaurants but it is possible to do some good walks through the olive and citrus groves down to Melegis and to the Arab castle.

Durcal

This is the main town of the valley and is worth a visit since it has several supermarkets and a whole rage of other shops. There is a fresh fish and vegetables market in a side street near Bar Florida, a local Wednesday market, several bakeries and particularly good pastelerias for cakes and pastries. There are very good butchers and a delicatessen shop on the main street and a shop specializing in frozen food lower down, several pharmacies (farmacias) and a small cinema. you will also find a number of bars and restaurants La Burhardilla and Bao Bad are in the plaza behind Bar Florida. you can also pick up a bus to Granada from the main square. Parking is sometimes difficult - it may be easier to park on the outskirts and walk down into the main shopping area until you are more familiar with the layout. Bio Durcal is a good restaurant in a converted mill on the Granada side of Durcal. Drive down the main street and the entrance is on the left hand side of the sharp bend just before you cross the river.

Nigüelas

The village is on the opposite side of the valley, also close to the Sierra Nevada. There are bars, several supermarkets and a bakery, all of which can be found near the church. On the outskirts of the village on the road towards Durcal is the restaurant Alqueria de los Lentos, a picturesque old water mill, a friendly place with good food, and which is a little more upscale than most other restaurants in the area. There are good walks from the village, into the national park. You need to tale the road down into the valley, across the river towards the head of the gorge. You can take a well established route to the Alpujarras town of Lanjaron. This takes about 4,5 hours.

The most outstanding feature in Nigüelas is the "Almazara de las Laerillas", an olive mill from the XV century. The mill has set the foundation for the economic development of the village. The church "San Juan Bautista" build "mudéjar" style (end XV century), is worth a visit. The town hall of Nigüelas is an old mansion from the XVI century and has a beautiful garden named "Jardín Romantico" where you can feel at ease between the fountains and pine trees. Furthermore there are buildings of Moorish origin, like the "Aljibe" (rainwater reservoir), which use to be a distribution outlet for water and a social meeting point.

Acequias

This is a very small village, closer to the Sierra Nevada, and has no supermarkets or bars. There is an old Arab mill at the top of the village and it is possible to walk up into the hills from here. There are daily deliveries of bread and there is a small traveling supermarket which visits the village several times a week.

Albunuelas

This is an old village dating back to the 10th and 11thC and was on the routes of al Idrisi, the first Arab geographer and Leon the African, who traveled from central Africa to Granada. It is perched on the slopes above the Rio Santo with stunning views across the gorge, the Sierra de Albunuelas and the Sierra de las Guajaras. The village is divided into the upper and lower barrios or quarters. The shops and bars are in the upper bario, but all are within walking distance. There are two small supermarkets as well as two bakeries. Most interesting though, is the forest road above Albunuelas, accessed from the Albunuelas/Granada road, which provides stunning views across the countryside. It is accessible by 2 wheel drive cars, although 4 wheel drive cars are possibly more comfortable. This road links to the road from Granada to Almunecar on the coast and provided a dramatic drive to Almunecar or across to Lake Bermejales. This is a highly recommended and highly scenic route.