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| Local Vegetation |
Facing the arid Sierra de Gádor in the Sierra
Nevada foothills, Láujar de Andarax occupies a hillside position
at 920m, backed by rocky peaks and dense pine forest, with stunning
views over the fertile river plain (plain) of the Río Andarax.
It´s famous for being the residence of Boabdil,
the last Nasrid ruler of the Moorish kingdom of Al-Andalus, who
sought refuge in Láujar in 1492 after he was expelled from
Granada following the city´s capture by the Catholic Monarchs.
He was promised the control of a Moorish Alpujarras, but the Christians
feared another Muslim uprising and a year later sent Boabdil to
Africa.
Boabdil wasn´t the only Muslim to shelter
in Láujar. His departure from Láujar provoked a series
of rebellions by Muslims based in the Alpujarras,
such as the one led by Aben Humeya, a Muslim convert who was once
the Christian Fernando de Válor. He was the leader of the
Morisco rebellion in the Alpujarras, also sheltered here years later.
Although the Moorish citadel that once covered over
3km² of Láujar´s territory is now no more than
a heap of stones, the village still bears a few traces of the struggle
between the Christians and the Muslims. In the vicinity of the village
is a dried-up river bed, the Rambla de los Mártires, which
refers to the Christians (the mártires or martyrs) who were
murdered in Láujar.
Today, Láujar is the largest village in the
protected natural park hinterland of the Sierra
Nevada National Park that falls in Almeria province. It makes
a good base for exploring the area and the mountains of the national
park itself, 15km to the north of the village. Just outside Láujar
on the C332 road to Alcora is a park visitors´ centre, 950
513 548, with details of walks around the village. The best spot
to enjoy the superb views across the Andarax valley and the Sierra
de Gádor is from the Mirador de la Vega.
Láujar has a pleasant main square, the Plaza
Mayor, presided over by the Ayuntamiento (Village Hall) housed in
an elegant 18th-century building. Next to the Ayuntamiento is a
fine fountain, the Fuente de los Cuatro Caños, dating from
the late 18th century and one of several dotted around the village.
Also worth seeing is the 18th-century Iglesia de la Encarnación,
built over the site of a mosque, with a Mudéjar tower, ornate
Baroque altarpiece and a sculpture attributed to Alonso Cano. Look
out for the beautiful Baroque houses lining the cobbled streets.
Try some of Láujar´s locally produced wine in one of
the village bars or visit the bodega Valle de Láujar.
Just over a kilometre from the village is a beautiful
shady picnic spot, El Nacimiento, at the source of the Andarax river.
There is a bar, picnic benches and barbecue pits set in a woodland
of poplars, willows, ash trees and pines, with some excellent short
walks leading off from the river, as well as the Sendero Monterrey
signposted footpath up the mountainside to the pine forests and
campsite of Monterrey. Alternatively, you can take a road up to
the mountains above the village, where there are some magnificent
views and walks through the forest.
Láujar has a reasonable choice of hotels,
with a three-star Villa Turística, on the edge of the village
at the Cortijo de la Villa, 950 513 027, and the two-star Hotel
Almirez, on the Berja road, 950 513 514. The village´s campsite
is Camping La Molineta, at Paraje del Batán.
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