Location Info

Güéjar Sierra village

Predominantly mountain municipality in the northwestern slope of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park and more than 1000 meters above sea level, this town is ideal for nature sports such as hiking (can walk to the Mulhacén and Picón de Jerez) , Sightseeing tours (by foot, horseback or mountain bike), caving (Calar, Alguacil and Víboras hills), paragliding (with several launch sites to land always by the river Genil) and climbing (on ice and rock).

History

Although the first population of this place dates from the Visigoths age, there is evidence of the existence of canals and farming tools used by the Romans. Anyway, the origin of the current town is for the Muslims who gave it the name ”Qaryat Wualyar, a village with three districts that was mostly dedicated to silk and thread manufactures.

Local Holidays

The fair takes place about the 13th of august, on honor of Saint Roque. On October they celebrate the festival of Our Lady of the Rosary (Virgen del Rosario).

Places of Interest

On the Cerro del Castillejo there are the remains of one of the two Moorish fortresses that were built in the fifteenth century. The parish church was built on 1625 over the ruins of an earlier one built on 1530. Also noteworthy are the fountains of the Sixteen Pipes (Dieciséis Caños) and the Plaza, with its corresponding public laundries and the old tram station of the Sierra.

Gastronomy

When tourists walk this route to the summit, down the Charcón by Maitena, they buy good and crispy wood oven baked bread at Güéjar Sierra. But the locals do not live on bread only: they make nice wines, fish at the Genil River, hunt on season and celebrate culinary competitions.

Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada is the southernmost ski resort in Europe. It is located in Monachil, 32 km from Granada and only 45 minutes away by car.

Sierra Nevada’s skiable area is more than 3.7 millon square metres. There are 115 slopes of different levels. The resort is divided into 6 areas: Veleta, Laguna de las Yeguas, Borreguiles, Loma Dílar, Parador and Río. The Borreguiles area has the Sulayr Snow Park for snowboarders, and DreamLand for young children.

In summer, the resort offers a range of mountain sports.