El Contador: Church, Museum and Routes through the Sierra de María

Church, Museum and Routes through El Contador

El Contador reveals its cultural character through the parish church of San Antonio de Padua. It was built in 1900 over an older hermitage dating from the early 18th century. Every year, El Contador hosts the festival in honor of its patron saint, San Antonio. The church and festival are therefore tangible points of reference for a journey that seeks to discover the town beyond its landscapes.

During the winter months, a few days before Christmas, visitors can experience special Misas de Gozo in the church. A small musical cuadrilla performs various parts of the Eucharist. This religious occasion connects the sacred building with a musical tradition of the winter months. Those who include El Contador in their itinerary at this time will find an occasion where the town, season and religious culture come together directly.

Rural Heritage at the Museo del Esparto

The Museo del Esparto offers another perspective on El Contador. It dates from 1999, houses around 65 to 70 objects connected with everyday life and rural activities, and has a courtyard for demonstrations. In terms of content, the museum explores the history of production, rural societies, as well as Chirivel and its surroundings. It also covers the subjects of harvesting, honey and esparto, along with various weaving systems.

Routes between the Geopark and the Sierra de María

A notable route to El Contador also runs beyond the town. The III Ruta del Estraperlo – II Ruta AlVelAl includes a 10-kilometer section from Venta Quemada to El Contador. This section passes through the landscape transition from the Granada Geopark to the Los Vélez district. The specified route length can be taken into account when planning a personal stage as a time and physical framework. On the same route, the final section ran on a Sunday from El Contador toward Los Álamos. El Contador thus appears both as the destination of one section and as the starting point of the final section. For stage planning, the route can be understood through its start, destination and landscape transition.

Another route perspective for cycling travelers is offered by the Vélez-Blanco–El Contador stage. It passes through the Puerto de Chirivel and the Sierra de María before reaching El Contador, where it ends. The pass, mountain area and destination thus become fixed points of reference along a route that connects the town with the surrounding landscape. Together with the route from Venta Quemada, this creates a picture of El Contador not only as a cultural setting, but also as a specific point along a route.

More Destinations

More destinations: Carboneras, Purchena, Costacabana, María, El Hijate, Lubrín, La Breña, El Parador De Las Hortichuelas

For the higher-level travel overview: Almeria.