Galera: Bronze Age, Badlands and Chozones

Castellón Alto is a settlement of the Argaric culture. The site belongs to an advanced phase of the Middle Bronze Age and is dated to approximately 1900 to 1600 cal BCE.

Culture and History

The mummy of Galera discovered at Castellón Alto is described as the oldest mummified remains on the Iberian Peninsula. The Museo de Galera preserves and displays the remains from a burial site at Castellón Alto. They are kept in an oxygen-free display case. A guided tour includes the Castellón Alto archaeological complex and the Iberian necropolis of Tútugi. Approximately one and a half hours are scheduled for this combined tour. The Iberian necropolis of Tútugi was opened to the public in Galera in 2008.

Thus, both the Castellón Alto settlement and the necropolis of Tútugi are present in Galera as named archaeological sites. The mummy of Galera is one of the finds from Castellón Alto, while its remains are displayed in the museum in an oxygen-free display case. The guided tour combines the archaeological complex with the necropolis and is planned to last approximately one and a half hours.

Landscape

The badlands of Castilléjar and Galera are a badlands landscape. They cover an area of 7,100 hectares. It lies in the municipalities of Castilléjar and Galera. The Sismitas de Galera y Castilléjar are geological folds formed by sediment liquefaction.

Cerro del Taal is a mountain in the area around Galera. Cerro de la Atalaya is also a mountain in the area around Galera. Perea is a mountain in the area around Galera. Cerro Gordo is another mountain in the area around Galera. El Malagón is an ancient site in the wider regional surroundings of Galera.

The landscape therefore encompasses both the extensive badlands landscape and the Sismitas, with their geological origins. The named mountains in the surrounding area include Cerro del Taal, Cerro de la Atalaya, Perea and Cerro Gordo. Unlike these, El Malagón lies in the wider regional surroundings of Galera.

Routes

The Ruta de los Chozones is a 31.2-kilometre cycling route. It passes through seven chozones open to visitors in the municipality of Galera. The chozones are small shelters built by people. They are made of local materials or were dug as caves into the rock. Agricultural workers used them as resting places.

The Gran Senda de los Primeros Pobladores is a demanding trekking route lasting approximately six days. Its course passes through Huéscar, Castril, Galera, Orce, Castilléjar and La Puebla de Don Fadrique. The route can also be completed by running or mountain bike.

On the Ruta de los Chozones, the seven chozones are the central points of interest as specific stops within the municipality of Galera. Their construction ranges from shelters made of local materials to caves dug into the rock; their former use by agricultural workers is part of the traditional function of these sites. By contrast, the Gran Senda de los Primeros Pobladores connects several named places in the region and allows for running and mountain biking as well as trekking.

Wine

At the Cata de Vinos de Galera, visitors can taste wines from various non-commercial producers of Vino del País free of charge.

Other direct destinations include Albuñol, Lújar, Villamena, Lanjarón, Cúllar Vega, Baúl, Pinos Del Valle and Caniles.

For the overarching travel overview: Granada.