When planning a stay in Murchas, you can focus on architectural history, historic water management or routes through the Vega. Specific points of interest include the rebuilt parish church, Castillo de Lojuela, a former grain mill and a 12-kilometre route. These themes differ: one focuses on church art and fortifications, the other on irrigation and outdoor activities.

Church and Castillo de Lojuela

The parish church was rebuilt with a single-nave floor plan following an earthquake and a subsequent fire. Carved, polychrome-painted wooden sculptures, probably dating from the 17th century, have been preserved in the Iglesia del Salvador. The church can therefore be appreciated both for its architectural history and its surviving woodcarvings.

Castillo de Lojuela preserves the ruins of a tower and an enclosed area dating from the Muslim period, which were used as a fortress and watchtower. The complex was probably built during the 11th-century Emirate period. Its polygonal plan extends along the east-southeast slope of the hill on which it stands. The central tower is situated above a steep drop overlooking the river. The valley of the Río Dúrcal can be seen from the Castillo.

The Castillo is also associated with a settlement that has disappeared. Its location is thought to have been near the present-day Era de Lojuela, where remains of houses and an Arab cemetery have been found. A prehistoric archaeological site with numerous pottery fragments from the Iberian and Roman periods is also located near the Castillo.

Waterworks, mill and landscape

The Molino de Lojuela was a grain mill with three millstones. Water was channelled from the river via an acequia and ramps; the channel outlets are still visible among the shrubs. The mill lies 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 the path conditions on site 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 within the agricultural landscape of the Lecrín Valley. Castillo de Lojuela is also associated with this agricultural landscape, which is listed in the Register of Andalusian Cultural Landscapes. Murchas offers a varied sequence of architectural and cultural landmarks, from the Iglesia del Salvador to the Acequia de Arcos.

Walks and routes

Walks in the Vega of Murchas pass through orange, lemon and olive groves. The Valle de la Alegría is a 12-kilometre linear route through Murchas with a low difficulty level. It also runs through the village’s narrow, winding streets.

The GR-7 long-distance trail runs from Restábal through Melegís, Murchas and Lecrín to Nigüelas. The two routes offer different ways to plan your walk: the Valle de la Alegría is described by its length, linear format and difficulty level, while the GR-7 is defined by the sequence of places it passes through. Check current conditions on the GR-7 and the path to the Molino de Lojuela before setting out.

Traditions and festivals

The Rosario de las Cruces on 25 December commemorates the 1884 earthquake. It features anonymous songs performed exclusively by men. Festivities in Murchas include Masses, a procession, and leisure and sporting activities. If you want to plan your trip around a particular festival, check the exact date in advance.

Discover more destinations: Gor, Ítrabo, La Ermita, Albolote, Montefrío, Almuñécar, Jerez Del Marquesado, Víznar

For the main travel overview: Granada.