Archez: Minaret, Mills and River Trails

Archez lies in the valley of the río Turvilla at the foot of the Sierra de Tejeda and Sierra de Almijara mountain ranges. Its cultural history and river landscape give the town two clearly defined highlights: the Alminar and the church, as well as the mills and trails along the river. If you’re looking for a hotel in Archez, these themes can help you shape your stay around culture, the history of the mills or the landscape.

Mudéjar Heritage and Local History

The Alminar de Árchez is 15 metres high and stands on a square base measuring 3.64 metres on each side. Original layers of paint in Almagra red are preserved in its decorated panels. The 13th-century minaret is attached to the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación. The church was built around the old minaret tower and combines Gothic-Mudéjar with Renaissance elements. This single-nave Mudéjar building has a wooden roof structure with tie beams; behind the choir are three simple camerinos.

The Alminar was declared a national historic-artistic monument by Royal Decree 1255/1979 of 20 April 1979. Archez is also part of the approximately 40-kilometre Ruta Mudéjar, which connects five towns in the Axarquía. On this route, the Torre de Árchez is highlighted as one of its most important sights. This connects the local focus on the minaret with a regional route, while keeping the two scales distinct.

The town’s history also includes remnants of an old Arab town wall. Visible sections are mainly on the north and west sides of Archez; the historic wall ran along Calle Álamos and Calle Cruz. These streets help visitors locate the described wall remains, while the Alminar provides another specific point of reference for the history of the architecture.

Mills, River and Trails

The Ruta del Río y los Molinos starts opposite the town hall. From there, it follows Calle Fuente Río Turvilla to the river and passes an old mill. Its route description thus links a starting point in town, a named street and the river, with the mill as a stop along the way. The Ruta Boabdil also offers a dedicated focus on the history of milling: the visit includes the exterior of Molino Eulalio and explains the entire flour-making process, from growing wheat to processing it.

In September 2023, the provincial authorities documented the long-distance SL-A 277 trail, the Ruta de los Molinos, as a route connecting Archez with Canillas de Albaida and running along the right bank of the río Turvilla. In September 2023, the provincial authorities documented the Ruta de los Molinos connection to the Gran Senda de Málaga. The named routes therefore differ in their described paths: the Ruta del Río y los Molinos runs from the town hall along Calle Fuente Río Turvilla to the river and an old mill; the Ruta de los Molinos is described as connecting Archez and Canillas de Albaida. The Paseo del Río Turvilla adds a scenic natural area in Archez to these highlights.

Visitor Experiences and Practical Planning

The historic grain mill Molino Eulalio (Winkler) was used to distribute food using ration cards in the post-war period and is privately owned. The visit included in the Ruta Boabdil is limited to the exterior of the mill. The Ruta Boabdil lasts 60 minutes and includes a drink and a tapa.

Other visitor experiences focus on different highlights: the Ruta Alminar is a 20-minute visit to the minaret, while a 30-minute visit is listed for the Casas de Gaudí in the municipality of Archez. The Casas are a picturesque group of bungalows in the style of Antoni Gaudí. The listed visits therefore focus on architecture, Gaudí-inspired buildings and the flour-making process. Check the details of the visitor programmes before your trip.

Discover more destinations: El Borge, Cuevas Del Becerro, Algarrobo, Monda, Canillas De Albaida, Sayalonga, Torrox, Mijas

For the main travel overview: Málaga.