El Pilar: Almond Groves, Threshing Floors and Mining History

Sorbas and Lubrín are the two closest towns to El Pilar and border one another. The area around El Pilar is predominantly rural and peaceful. Local history is linked to earlier agriculture and iron ore mining.

Almond Blossom and a Route Through the Valle de El Pilar

Olives and almonds are important crops in the area around El Pilar. In February, almond trees bear creamy white and pink blossoms. The timing varies with the weather each year, so February is a seasonal guide, not a fixed flowering date. The 2026 program describes a route through the Valle de El Pilar that passes through blossoming almond groves. It also mentions a visit to an iron ore mine, as well as traditional architecture and ethnography. Along the route are stone threshing floors, known as eras, and distinctive agricultural farmhouses, known as cortijos. If you are considering taking part in this route, check the current offering in advance.

Traces of Agriculture and Mining

Stone threshing floors around El Pilar bear witness to the area's former grain farming. Some eras have years carved into them: 1862, 1899 and 1909. Two stone ore-loading hoppers stand north of El Pilar. They are remnants of facilities where iron ore was loaded into waiting wagons and trailers. Mount Atalaya rises above El Pilar; iron ore mines once lay on its slopes. The church of El Pilar is also connected with the area's mining history: it houses an image of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners.

The Cave Paintings of La Mela

Near El Pilar, you can visit the cave paintings of La Mela, which are protected by a tall metal fence. The paintings are thought to date from between the Neolithic and the Copper Age, approximately 6,000 to 3,000 years ago. This dating remains a possible archaeological interpretation. Check local access arrangements before visiting.

The Classified Livestock Droving Route V.P. 2

The classified livestock droving route V.P. 2 starts at the border between Sorbas and Lubrín. It then follows the road from Uleila to Lubrín for about 300 metres before reaching the vicinity of El Pilar. Farther north, it runs partly through cultivated plots and partly alongside a track. The figure of about 300 metres refers to the section along the road, not to the total length of V.P. 2. For navigation, check the route on an up-to-date map before setting out.

When looking for a hotel for your trip to El Pilar, you can decide what to focus on during your stay: February is a seasonal guide to the creamy white and pink almond blossom, whose timing varies with the weather; eras, ore-loading hoppers and Atalaya tell the story of earlier agriculture and mining.

Discover more destinations: Villaricos, Cantoria, Líjar, Arboleas, Bedar, Aguadulce, El Hijate, Roquetas De Mar

For the main travel overview: Almeria.