Cacín between gorges, river landscape and festivals

Culture and festivals in Cacín

Cacín reveals its history not only through a single building, but through a variety of traces. The Cueva de Cacín is a Neolithic archaeological site in the area known as Los Tajos. The Vaso de Cacín is on display at the Museo Arqueológico de Madrid. The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores was rebuilt after the 1884 earthquake. The archaeological site, museum exhibit and rebuilt church each add their own distinct cultural accent.

The festivals give Cacín's annual calendar a distinctive shape. The patron-saint festivities take place at the beginning of August in honour of the Virgen de los Dolores and last four days. During the weekend verbena held as part of the patron-saint festivities, visitors are provided with food; there is also live music and DJs. Merendicas is celebrated on 20 January in honour of San Sebastián; residents and visitors meet in the surrounding countryside for a shared day. In Cacín, Candelaria is celebrated on the night before 2 February with bonfires and the burning and spinning of esparto torches.

Hiking through the gorges

The hiking route through the Tajos de Cacín between Cacín and the Embalse de los Bermejales is moderately difficult to challenging and 9.4 km long; for the outward and return journey, the distance is twice as long. The route is not recommended in rainy weather because of the risk of the river swelling. It includes sections secured with ropes for ascending and descending over rock, suspension bridges and a section beneath a rock overhang. The length, difficulty and trail details therefore provide concrete parameters for planning the stages.

Another route along the Río Cacín follows the river and offers experiences of the landscape, flora and fauna. At the Tajos del Río Cacín, suspended rope and wooden bridges cross the river; waterfalls can also be seen there. Along the Tajos del Río Cacín, fixed ropes help hikers overcome some changes in elevation; above them, large rock formations rise over the riverbed.

Bridge and Contraembalse de Cacín

The Puente del Río Cacín is part of the river landscape. It was built in 1940 with a central arch and several semicircular stone arches and is a crossing point for several hiking trails in the surrounding area. The construction year, bridge design and connection to the trails offer three distinct details to observe on site.

At the Contraembalse de Cacín, the shore is largely natural; the water has a certain degree of ecological quality. The reservoir can be reached via exit 211 of the A-92: take the A-402 for 3.7 km to the first left turn at El Turro. The road then runs parallel to the canal for 8.5 km before crossing the Río Cacín. Parking is available beside the reservoir. The sequence of exit, turn, canal section and river crossing describes the approach in clear stages.

Other places: Lanjarón, Quéntar, Dólar, Salar, Montejícar, Hernán-Valle, Zagra, Escoznar

For the higher-level travel overview: Granada.