Nigüelas

Lying at the foot of the Cerro del Zahor on the edge of the cliffs of the Río Torrente, Nigüelas is the highest town in the Valle de Lecrín (931 meters above sea level) and also the most mountainous. From here you can enjoy amazing views over almost the entire region.

The Zahor is the first of a series of mountains, the highest of which being the Cerro del Caballo (3300 high). On the top the towns of Lanjarón and Nigüelas are located. Although there are several paths from the village up to the Sierra Nevada, the best one follows the river until Los Cahorros. This route will take you past the ruins of several water mills and through beatiful pine forests.

Spain’s oldest mill is in Nigüelas and it is now a museum. Nearby you can visit the Falle de Nigüelas, a geographical phenomenon that has been officially declared a Natural Monument.

Although there are not many remains from the Muslim era, the little existing evidence points to the fact that Nigüelas was a farmstead. Its name comes from Niwalas, a word that means watchtower or high lookout point. During the Islamic period this town fell under the jurisdiction of Padul and was one of the neighbourhoods that bordered with the Valle de Lecrín and the western side of Sierra Nevada. After the Reconquista it continued to focus on agriculture.

Nigüelas has a typical La Alpujarra cuisine and dishes include Migas, Remojón, sausages, Ollas and delicious Arabic pastries such as doughnuts, Pestiños y Leche frita. To mark the feast day of San Marcos the locals make mouth-watering Hornazos.