Cortes y Graena

Cortes y Graena comprises the towns of Cortes, Graena, Lopera and Los Baños, all in the north of the Sierra Nevadas and framed in a spectacular mountain landscape. There are two major tourist attractions, the cave houses and the thermal spa baths at Graena, whose waters were recognized internationally at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900.Their journey becomes a walk through history from the Bronze Age, through Roman times to the Arab settlements. Cortes y Graena also offers visitors many interesting places to discover through walks and excursions, and also to enjoy activities such as hiking and mountaineering. In the immediate locality you can practice sports such as hunting and fishing.

The name ‘Cortes’, very common in Spanish place names, is of Latin origin and came to mean "farmhouses" which suggests that these lands were inhabited during Roman times. So Cortes, like Graena, Lopera and Los Banos are population centres which are very typical of the human settlement system in the accitana region, whose capital, Guadix, shares their histories .After the conquest of Granada (1492), these lands and villages were taken within the realm of the Catholic Kings, until, in the early seventeenth century, they were purchased from the Crown by the family Pérez de Barradas, with the title of Marquis of Cortes.

Monuments

Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion (Parish Church of Our Lady of the Assumption), Graena, Moorish style.

Parroquial de Cortes (Parish Church of Cortes), Moorish style.

Archaeological

Roman remains near the springs (also from the Bronze Age).

Town planning.

Spa in Banos de Graena.

Gastronomy

A region of wines and casseroles. Regarding the former, the production of wines of this region has maintained a tradition of home production and popular taste. Among the most typical recipes of the town is kid in sauce, and typical of this area is the preparation of meat dishes such as rabbit, game and pork.

Directions

Leaving Granada, at the roundabout take the 2nd exit Continue along: E-902 / A-44 heading to Armidale - Motril.Pass near Maracena and Peligros.Follow directions Almeria - Murcia.Pass Albolote, go to: A-92.Pass near Lopera.Take the exit towards: Exit 288 - Purullena - Cortes y Graena - Beas de Guadix - Troglodyte City - Ceramic Art – Paisaje Pintoresco. Follow signs to Cortes and Graena.

Distances

Granada 47 km
Guadix 9.5 km
Marchal 4.5 km
Purullena 3.5 km
El Bejarín 6 km
Esfiliana 14 km
Benalúa de Guadix 8 km
Alcudia de Guadix 15 km
Cogollos de Guadix 20 km