Dúrcal

This town is located to the south of Granada, 860 metres above sea level, just by the Suspiro del Moro. It is on the edge of the fertile Valle de Lecrín and surrounded by the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. Its southern border is next to the Sierra de Los Guájares. Dúrcalis part of the Parque Natural de Sierra Nevada and has its own microclimate and places of great beauty. It is an ideal place to go hiking and practice adventure sports in the middle of nature.

Dúrcal has one of the most beautiful landscapes of the region: the small valley formed by the river at the bottom of the Sierra Nevada. There are a number of bridges built in various eras that cross the river, many fountains with medicinal properties and old mills dotted around that made the most of the waters. All this is set against a lush and verdant backdrop, home to some of the finest restaurants and hotels in the area.

Dúrcal’s lofty bridges, which tower over its many orange and lemon groves, are a familiar view on the journey between Granada and the coast. Of the four bridges, the oldest and most important one from an archaeological point of view is the Roman bridge, which was built with a single arch in the 1^st century AD. From here you can see the Puente de Hierro, where several active tourism companies organise bungee jumping.

The origins of Dúrcal date back to the Muslim period. It was a through-route on the way from Granada to the coast and its fertile terrain attracted the Arabs. Its name comes from the Arabic word ‘Quasb’, which refers to the cultivation of sugarcane, although the area is full of orange and lemon trees. After the Reconquista the Moors were expelled from the area, and from Dúrcal many families fled to Africa.

In Dúrcal cereals, almonds, oranges and lemons are grown, and aromatic olive oil is produced. Game also features in many recipes.