Discover Murchas

Murchas appeals to travelers interested in architectural and cultural history, historic water management and paths through an agricultural landscape. Churches, Castillo de Lojuela, a former mill and a range of walking options each offer a different focus. You can tailor your stay to the subjects you are most interested in exploring.

Churches and traditions

The parish church of Murchas was rebuilt with a single-nave layout after an earthquake and a subsequent fire. The term refers to a church with one main nave rather than several parallel naves. The Iglesia del Salvador preserves carved, polychrome wooden sculptures that probably date from the 17th century.

A local tradition is also associated with an earthquake: the Rosario de las Cruces on December 25 commemorates the 1884 quake. It includes anonymous songs performed exclusively by men.

Castillo de Lojuela and its history

Castillo de Lojuela has a polygonal layout and extends along the east-southeast-facing slope of the hill on which it stands. It has a central tower above a steep slope overlooking the river. The ruins of a tower and an enclosed area date from the Muslim period and were used as a fortress and watchtower. The complex was probably built in the 11th century during the Emirate period. The valley of the Río Dúrcal can be seen from the castle.

Associated with the castle is a vanished settlement thought to have been located near the present-day Era de Lojuela. Remains of houses and an Arab cemetery have been found there. A prehistoric archaeological site with numerous pottery fragments from the Iberian and Roman periods is also located in the area around the castle. These different remains give the town’s history more than one point of reference in time.

Mill, irrigation and landscape

The Molino de Lojuela was a grain mill with three millstones. Water was brought from the river via an irrigation channel and ramps; the channel outlets can be seen among the bushes. The mill is on the Río Grande, also known as the Río de Dúrcal, directly below the former Castillo de Lojuela and can be reached by a path. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

The Acequia Alta de Murchas is part of a gravity-fed irrigation network that has changed little over the past centuries. The Cónchar-Murchas Aqueduct is also classified as a cultural asset of the agricultural landscape of the Lecrín Valley. The access road to Murchas offers panoramic views. In the Vega, walks wind between orange, lemon and olive trees, offering a different focus from the fortified structures and water installations.

Hiking in and around Murchas

The linear Valle de la Alegría route runs for 12 kilometers through Murchas. Here it passes through narrow, winding streets and is rated as an easy route. The distance and difficulty rating describe the route as a whole. The GR-7 long-distance trail continues from Restábal via Melegís, Murchas and Lecrín to Nigüelas. Check current trail conditions before hiking the GR-7.

There are several different types of route to choose from: the Valle de la Alegría is described by its length, route through Murchas and difficulty rating; for the GR-7, the sequence of towns is the key detail. Walks in the Vega, meanwhile, offer a chance to focus on the orange, lemon and olive trees. These differences can help you plan without treating the routes as equivalent.

Discover more destinations: Las Gabias, Churriana De La Vega, Otívar, Laroles, Dólar, Atarfe, Moraleda De Zafayona, Pulianas.

For the wider travel overview: Granada.