Cáñar – Mountain Trails, Architecture and Traditions

Cáñar combines mountain trails with an Alpujarran townscape and local history. From the town center, a signposted trail climbs towards the Sierra; white houses, flat roofs and tinaos shape the look of the town. The town also has a church with Baroque furnishings, a local museum and traditions whose dates are important for planning a trip.

Hiking Trails Around Cáñar

A signposted trail climbs from the town center towards the Sierra and reaches the Sulayr Trail after 9.8 km, following the Puente Palo forest track. Another hike is the Tajo de los Machos y Cerrillo Redondo circular route, which starts and ends at the Área Recreativa Puente Palo. The route is rated very difficult and covers 19.60 km with 1,422 m of ascent.

The two trail descriptions provide different planning details: for the signposted trail, the distance to the Sulayr is given; for the circular route, the ascent and its very difficult rating are also provided. Check current weather and trail conditions before setting out.

Landscape and Viewpoints

The Puente Palo recreational area is beside the Cáñar forest track, on the right bank of the Río Chico at an altitude of 1,750 meters. Puente Palo is also a pine grove surrounding the source of the Río Chico above 1,700 meters. Much of the municipality lies within the Sierra Nevada Natural and National Park.

The Robledal de Cáñar is a forest on the Loma de Cáñar, whose survival is attributed to moisture rising from the sea. The Cueva de Sortes is considered one of Cáñar’s two natural monuments; it takes its name from a former settlement that has since disappeared. South of the town center, the Mirador de Las Eras is beside a rectangular threshing floor paved with stone slabs.

Architecture, Church and Museum

Cáñar’s traditional Alpujarran architecture includes white houses, flat roofs and tinaos, the characteristic arcades. The Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Ana was built at the end of the 16th century on the site of an earlier rábita. The church contains a Baroque altarpiece made of polychrome wood, created in 1753–1755, and a Baroque organ by Tomás Pabón dating from 1799.

The Casa del Pueblo houses the Museo del Pueblo, the Aula de Música de Cáñar, a rehearsal room and a multipurpose hall. The museum displays photographs of local traditions, including Música de las Mozuelas and La Pelota. Its exhibits also include the mechanism of the church’s first clock tower, dating from 1883, as well as esparto-grass objects associated with Pepillo el Bayaquero. The roof of the Casa del Pueblo is home to the Mirador de África; on clear days, the view extends as far as Morocco’s Rif Mountains.

Traditions and Local Specialties

La Pelota is a local tradition in which people play by hitting a ball with their hand against the eastern wall of the nave of the Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Ana. The Fiesta de la Música de las Mozuelas follows a nighttime schedule: young people gather at midnight to prepare, the celebration begins before dawn, and around 4 a.m. a procession goes through the narrow streets, singing serenades to unmarried women. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the current dates and program in advance.

The local cuisine is also part of the town’s character. Cáñar’s specialties include almond soup, fennel stew, migas and game dishes; notable sweets include roscos, pestiños and buñuelos.

Getting There

The route to Cáñar leads from the A-44 via Lanjarón, then along the A-4132 and A-4201 roads. Check road conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Santa Fé, Castril, Bubión, Lanteira, Algarinejo, Ferreira, Huéneja, Ítrabo.

For the main travel overview: Granada.