The Region Valle de Lecrín




The Nature of Valle de Lecrín


This region is favorite  for walkers, bird watchers, cyclists and artists. An area of outstanding natural beauty, the Lecrin Valley is famous for its verdant landscape (due to the melt-water run off from the Sierra Nevada), its amazing views to lake Beznar and the Sierra Nevada mountains, for its walks, birdlife and amazing spring colours. Some villages are situated inside the Natural Park Sierra Nevada.: El Padul, Nigüelas and Dúrcal. Thanks to its strategic location you are close to the Alpujarra and the coast. In its regions is one of the most important wetlands from Andalucia situated; the Wetlands from Padul, which has a rich flora and fauna. It is also possible to take a natural thermal bath in Dúrcal or visit one of its natural caves.


The History of Valle de Lecrín


After the Reconquest of the Kingdom of Granada (in 1492), the region was demographically almost deserted and inhabited as a result of the deaths that caused the war and expulsions. The authorities, aware of the seriousness of this situation, took several measures among which the protection of the greatest possible number of fruit trees, the rebuilding of houses and public buildings, but fundamentally the repopulation of the territory with people of mainly of Jaen and Galicia. 


A lot of the history of the region has been preserved. In some villages you are still able to see the historic washing sinks (Melegis, Béznar, Albuñuelas) and "tinaos" like in the Alpujarra. There are also remains from the Arabic period like the caste ruins (Murchas, Mondújar) and watchtowers.

The Climate in Valle de Lecrín


Lecrín's climate is classified as warm and temperate. The winter months are much rainier than the summer months in Lecrín. The climate here is classified as Csa by the Köppen-Geiger system. In Lecrín, the average annual temperature is 15.3 °C. The rainfall here averages 430 mm. The least amount of rainfall occurs in July. The average in this month is 5 mm. Most of the precipitation here falls in December, averaging 60 mm. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 24.8 °C. January is the coldest month, with temperatures averaging 7.5 °C. (Source: Climate-Data.org)

The Food in Valle de Lecrín


A typical dish is  "Remojón del Valle" which is based on its origins, a refreshing salad of orange oil. By the time items have been added such as cod, dried tomatoes or olives, which define this region that smells of orange blossom, painted olive green, with the sound of water background. Other typical food are recipes with beans, fennel, lamb, honey, almonds, bread. The cuisine is also enriched by the influence of the Alpujarra, near the sea, and by the many cultures, that since ancient times, have chosen to live in the valley.

(Source: Turismo de Valle Lecrín)


The Situation of Valle de Lecrín


Thanks to its strategic location you are close to the Alpujarra, the Sierra Nevada, Granada and the Costa Tropical. The highway A-44 is crossing this region from north to south and is connecting Granada with the highway A-7 that goes along the coast from Almeria to Malaga. The villages in the region are well connected with well maintained local roads. The nearest airport is situated in Granada or in Malaga.