The Castilléjar district is nailed in a fertile valley that extends to the shores of the Galera and Guardal rivers, in a territory rich in archaeological sites and with some of the most spectacular landscapes of badlands of the region. The Iberian cemetery of Castro de la Balunca is located inside it, dated between the VI and the V centuries b.C. It has as well numerous caves of the prehistoric man and other that are still used like houses. Other places of interest are the parochial church and the Casa del Tercio or of the Tercia and as natural spaces the Sagra and Castril mountain ranges stand out.
An the entrance of the town there is an old metal bridge of the beginning of the XX century, and following the way of Castilléjar you will arrived at the Baths of Bartolo or Fuente Hedionda. Castilléjar has an artificial lake, suitable for swimming, and there are still conserved, although in bad state, the ovens to elaborate plaster and lime. There is also many “espejuelos” (crystallized plaster).
The area where Castilléjar is located has served as human habitat from the prehistoric period, as the archaeological sites of Caves of Guardal demonstrate. There are vestiges of an Iberian town that was based in the VI and V centuries b.C., and later it housed bastetanas tribes. The Arabs occupied its territory, under the popular name of the Morería, until in 1488 it was conquered by the Catholic Kings and it became dependant of the Alba House. It received special protagonism during the Moorish rebellion at the end of the XVI century, reason why it was severely punished. The Moorish were expelled and the town was repopulated with settlers from Aragon, Vasc Country and Navarra in their majority.
In Castilléjar it is possible to find great variety of hunting and fishing dishes. In addition, the magnificent segureño lamb that grows in the region provides recipes like the caldereta and the tin roasted. Its pastry making based on twisted rolls, cakes and flavourful peaches stands out.
© Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada I Diputación de Granada
