El Valle de Lecrin/The Lecrin Valley (also known as the Valley of Happiness)
El Valle de Lecrin is an area of outstanding natural beauty and is famous for its landscape of orange and lemon groves, almond and olive trees and fruits of pomegranate and grapes. The valley has been inhabited since prehistoric times due to its excellent climatic conditions and was chosen by the Moors for it’s fertile land and they helped create the irrigation system we see today throughout the valley. Today it’s amazing views up to the snowcapped peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, down through the lush valley to the waters of Lake Beznar and to the mountains beyond which run down to the Costa Tropical coastline make it an ideal location to be enjoyed by it’s many visitors.
Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts the area offers fantastic opportunities for walkers, rock climbers, bird watchers, cyclists, golfers, painters and skiers in the winter months. With excellent road links, it also makes a great base to explore the beautiful cities of Granada, Alcala la Real, Baeza, Ubeda, and Cazorla, to name but a few, and the coast of the Costa Tropical.
Watch the a video clip of the Lecrin Valley to get a taster of what you can expect to experience. Video
For guided walking around the Lecrin Valley visit Spanish Highs Lecrin Valley Walks for more information.
The Lecrin valley is split into 8 municipals which are made up of 17 villages or towns:
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Albuñuelas
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Dúrcal
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El Padul
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El Pinar: Pinos del valle, Ízbor
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El Valle: Melegís, Restábal, Saleres
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Lecrín: Acequias, Chite, Béznar, Mondújar, Murchas, Talara
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Nigüelas
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Villamena: Cónchar, Cozvijar
For more information about the valley, climate & activities click on the following links – http://thelecrinvalley.wordpress.com/
For those visitors who are into Geocaching there are caches in the Alpujarra and Lecrin Valley as well as the city of Granada.
Poised below the magnificent backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains – a stunning sight when capped with snow. Granada is home to Andalucia’s most precious monument, the Alhambra Palace and gardens. This was the palace-fortress of the Nasrid kings, rulers of the last Spanish Muslim realm. The Alhambra sits on a hill overlooking the city and there are three distinct areas – the Casa Real (Royal Palace or Palacios Nazaries), the palace gardens of the Generalife and finally the Alcazaba.
To protect the complex, daily admissions are limited so booking tickets in advance is highly recommended. http://www.alhambra-patronato.es/
The city also preserves the old Moorish quarter of the Albayzin and gypsy barrio of Sacromonte which are worth a visit. There are some great walks around the city and guided tours are available – just visit the tourist information points to enquire.
For those who would like to enjoy some rest and relaxation then a visit to one of the city’s Arab Baths is a must. – http://granada.hammamalandalus.com/
For younger visitors or those with an inquisitive mind and an interest in science then a visit to the Science Park is recommended.
During the winter months many visitors head for the Ski Resort of the Sierra Nevada but this area is also a great place to visit during other parts of the year with many activities available such as walking & trecking and mountain biking during the summer months. For more information visit the Sierra Nevada website – http://sierranevada.es/
For more information on Food, Culture & Travel in the Granada area visit Molly’s Blog – www.piccavey.com/
For lots of downloadable maps & information on what to do and see in and around the Granada area visit the Granada Tourism website: www.turgranada.es
Las Alpujarras
A great area for outdoor activities and enjoying the fresh mountain air. Lanjaron is a well known Spa town and a relaxing session at the Balneario de Lanjaron is highly recommended. http://www.balneariodelanjaron.com/
Enjoy the beaches and coastal areas of the Costa Tropical – just 20 minutes drive from Pinos del Valle