The Bérchules district includes the towns of Alcútar and Bérchules. In the way that links both the Fountain of the Carmelas is located, one of the most popular of the region, since a legend assures that all unmarried person who drinks of its waters finds couple in a short period of time.
This district is nailed in the Southern slope of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park, in high mountain, between beautiful places and ferruginous and carbonated births of waters. Bérchules has a spring called Fuente Agria and it is located in the depression of the Guadalfeo river. Its white houses of flat roofs and steep streets, perfectly adapted to the hills of the region form the typical Alpujarra’s architecture.
A peculiar thing of Bérchules that deserves to be outstanding is that they celebrate New Years Eve in August. This fact is owed that a recent 31 of December power cut in the town took place avoiding the possibility of following the twelve bells and to say goodbye to the year. The citizens of Berchules decided then to eat the grapes in the middle of the summer.
The origin of Bérchules can be located in the VIII century, during the Mozarab stage, although it would reach greater splendour and wealth during the Nasrid reign thanks to the production of silks, products of orchard, wine, dry fruits and aromatic spices that left to other places of the Granada Kingdom. It had special prominence during the rebellion of the Moorish in the XVI century. Juan of Austria suffocated the revolt and expelled the Moorish of the town. Later it was repopulated by settlers of other parts of Spain.
There are two theories about the origin of the name of Bérchules. One says that it possibly derives from the Arab berchul, which means orchard. This is because the abundance of orchards and to the fertility of its soil. The other theory defends that this name could come from Banu Asad, family who was settled in the area.
The other town of the district, Alcútar, is translated by "fountain of the paradise", and it was also called Alcunça or Alcuza.
Of this town the trouts of its rivers, migas, jams and sausages stand out. The sobrehúsa of kidney beans is one of its most typical recipes.
© Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada I Diputación de Granada
