Murchas: Between Castillo de Lojuela and the Lecrín Valley

Murchas preserves, at Castillo de Lojuela, the ruins of a tower and an enclosed area dating from the Muslim period, which were used as a fortress and watchtower.

Culture

Castillo de Lojuela was probably built during the Emirate period in the 11th century. It has a polygonal layout and extends along the east-southeastern slope of the hill on which it stands. Its central tower stands above a steep slope overlooking the river. The Castillo is associated with a vanished settlement believed to have been located near the present-day «Era de Lojuela»; remains of houses and an Arab cemetery were found there. The surrounding area also contains a prehistoric archaeological site with numerous pottery fragments from the Iberian and Roman periods.

The parish church of Murchas was rebuilt with a single-nave layout after an earthquake and a subsequent fire. The Iglesia del Salvador in Murchas contains carved and polychrome-painted wooden sculptures, probably dating from the 17th century. In Murchas, a varied succession of architectural and cultural monuments extends from the Iglesia del Salvador to the Acequia de Arcos.

Landscape

The Cónchar-Murchas Aqueduct is classified as a cultural asset of the agricultural landscape of the Lecrín Valley. Castillo de Lojuela is associated with the agricultural landscape of the Lecrín Valley, which is listed in the Register of Andalusian Cultural Landscapes. The Acequia Alta de Murchas forms part of a gravity-fed irrigation network that has changed little over the past centuries. The access road to Murchas offers panoramic views. From Castillo de Lojuela, the valley of the Río Dúrcal can be seen.

The Molino de Lojuela is located on the Río Grande, also known as the Río de Dúrcal, directly below the former Castillo de Lojuela and can be reached via a path. It was a grain mill with three millstones, supplied with water from the river through an acequia and ramps. The channel outlets are still visible among the bushes.

Hiking

The linear Valle de la Alegría route runs for 12 kilometers through Murchas and has a low level of difficulty. It passes through the narrow, winding streets of Murchas. In the Vega of Murchas, walks lead between orange, lemon and olive trees. The long-distance GR-7 trail runs from Restábal via Melegís, Murchas and Lecrín to Nigüelas.

Festivals

The Rosario de las Cruces on December 25 commemorates the 1884 earthquake and includes anonymous songs performed exclusively by men. The festivals in Murchas feature masses, a procession, as well as leisure and sporting activities.

Other places: Montejícar, Torvizcon, Dílar, Santa Cruz Del Comercio, Alfornón, Melegís, Albuñol, Güevéjar

To the overarching travel overview: Granada.