Montejícar: Castle, Festivals and Routes

Culture

Montejícar is home to the Castillo de Montejícar, which has been protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest since 1985; it can be visited via an access route on the eastern slope. The Iglesia de San Andrés is a 16th-century church built over the former mosque and has a 35-metre-high bell tower. The Ermita de la Virgen de la Cabeza includes a chapel area dating from the early 17th century with painted doors, as well as a 70-centimetre-high polychrome wooden statue. The Puente Romano stands over the Guadahortuna River; next to the bridge, the remains of a defensive tower and a section of wall have been preserved. El Cañuelo is a washhouse built in 1930 that reopened in 2008 following a restoration project and illustrates a former communal washing tradition. The Camino de los Arrieros is an ancient Roman road that connected the cities of Cástulo near Linares and Cartago Nova near Cartagena; some sections of this transport infrastructure have survived to this day.

Festivals and Traditions

At the beginning of August, a traditional performance of Moros y Cristianos takes place in Montejícar in honour of the Virgen de la Cabeza, the town's patron saint. This performance is considered the only one of its kind in the comarca. The Romería de San Isidro takes place on 15 May in the Eras Altas. The Día de la Torta involves family gatherings in the countryside.

Discover more places here: Picena, Alquife, Illora, Albuñol, Darro, Dúdar, Albolote and Puerto Lope.

Trails and Landscape

The Ruta Camino Histórico is an approximately 12-kilometre circular route that can be completed on foot and is intended for both ecotourism and cultural tourism. The Ruta Patrimonial is a visitor route accessible on foot through natural areas, archaeological sites, and monumental and ethnological cultural sites. The Ruta Alta Coloma begins in the municipal area of Montejícar and leads to the summit of Alta Coloma at an elevation of 1,696 metres. The Ruta Fuentes runs mainly along signposted paths that are suitable for hiking or cycling on most sections. Fuente Cabra connects a water spring with its surroundings, an amphitheatre, and the beginning of the ascent to the Castillo Árabe.

The Ruta Camino Histórico combines the form of a circular route with its classification as an eco- and cultural tourism route. The Ruta Patrimonial, by contrast, leads through natural areas, archaeological sites, and monumental and ethnological cultural sites. For the Ruta Alta Coloma, the starting point is set in the municipal area; its destination is the 1,696-metre-high summit of Alta Coloma. The Ruta Fuentes mainly refers to signposted paths and combines hiking with cycling on most sections. Fuente Cabra additionally highlights the connection between the water spring, amphitheatre, and the beginning of the ascent to the Castillo Árabe.

To the overarching travel overview: Granada.