Castilléjar

A little village of about 2,000 inhabitants located to the northeast of the province of Granada,  at about 766 metres above sea level. Located at the confluence of the rivers Guardal and Barbatas, the town of Castilléjar, has witnessed the passing of different cultures that have left their mark on the peninsula.

Because of its proximity to the Natural Park Sierra de Castril it is a good passage and rest in the different tourist routes in the interior (marsh of El Negratín, San Clemente, Natural Park Sierra de Baza, Archaeology and Oasis Route, the Sagra, etc.).

One of the most unique characteristics of this area are the handmade Cave Houses (peak and basket) by their ancestral inhabitants, that have the same comforts of a normal house but with the advantage of an internal temperature of around about 18 to 20 degrees throughout the year.

Traditionally it has been a town dedicated to agriculture and livestock, nowadays it is experiencing a boom for rural tourism.

The area where Castilléjar sits has served as human habitat since prehistoric times, as shown the archaeological sites of Guardal Caves. There are traces of an Iberian village that settled in the VI and V centuries BC, and later housed Bastetano tribes. The Arabs occupied its territory, under the popular name of the Moorish, until in 1488 it was conquered by the Catholic kings and became a dependency of the House of Alba. It gained special prominence during the Moorish rebellion in the late XVI century, and it was harshly punished. The Moors were expelled and the city was repopulated with settlers from Basque-Navarra and Aragon mostly.

Monuments

Parish Church of La Inmaculada Concepción
Hermitage of Santo Domingo
Caves of El Río Guardal
Casa del Tercio or La Tercia
Iberian town of Castro de la Balunca

Gastronomy

Game and fish dishes. In addition, the superb lamb from segura that grows in the region favours recipes like the stew and the asado de lata. We have to emphasize in its confectionery donuts, cakes and tasty peaches.

How to get there

You have to exit Granada towards Baza. A-92. Continue along: A-92. Take the exit towards: Salida 295 - Baza - Murcia. Take the A-92N. Take the exit towards: Salida 339 - Baza (Centro) - Benamaurel - Caniles - Huércal Overa. Then turn left: A-4200, towards: GR-NE-5 - Benamaurel. Alleyway of Baico. Then you get Castilléjar.

Distances