Gualchos-Castell del Ferro

Gualchos - Castell del Ferro

by Saskia Mier

Gualchos is made up of two areas, Gualchos and Castell de Ferro, and is especially interesting for its natural environment; the main attractions being its beaches and cliffs. It has about 5300 inhabitants.

History

Gualchos has its origins in the Nasrid farmhouses, possibly arising as a result of the desire to take advantage of the land for irrigated crops. Here we must highlight the mine, which was once a cistern, then a washing place and now a wonderful viewpoint, whose water source still provides spring water to the community. More>

Things to see

Castillo de Castell de Ferro
The period during which the original castle was constructed is unknown, however, the current construction has been confirmed to be from the Nasrid era. It presides from a hill that warns the population of the Rambla avenue that descends from the Sierra de Lújar and that divides the terms of Gualchos and Lújar, and that upon its arrival at the sea creates the plains of Cambriles to the east and El Sotillo to the west. It currently houses the Centro de Interpretación de la Cultura de la Costa Tropical. Located in Castell de Ferro.

Centro de Interpretación de la Cultura de la Costa Tropical
In its 300 square meters, visitors can learn about the history of the coast of Granada including the mix of cultures that have given rise to the current civilisation, the places of archaeological interest in which the most important moments of the coast have been dated, its extraordinary natural heritage resulting from a privileged geographical location. Located on Camino del Albergue, in Castell de Ferro.
Opening Times:
Monday-Friday, 20:00-22:00hrs
Tel: 958 65 62 37

Iglesia de Castell de Ferro
Its construction, like many others in the area, is due to the parish priest, José Antonio Granados Vega, who carried out great work in Castell until his retirement. Some neighbours and others coming from outside the community formed a theatre company with the aim of entertaining themselves and their countrymen. Located on Calle Iglesia.

Iglesia de San Miguel
Built in 1502, the church occupies the site of an old mosque, and features an altarpiece and the figure of the patron San Miguel. The bell tower particularly stands out. Located on Calle Iglesia.

Torre de Cambriles
The construction of the tower, in all probability, dates from the end of the sixteenth century due to the many attacks and landings in the Cambriles cove by the Berber pirates who easily reached the Alpujarras through this place. In the middle of the eighteenth century, it had two tower keepers assigned to it and later, a tower corporal and three tower keepers. It was not a defence tower but it did have a small cannon. Its purpose was for surveillance in addition to defending the port of Cambriles, crossing fields of view with the Torre de Baños to the east and defending Castell de Ferro beach and the Gualchos or Rubite boulevard to the west. In 1839 it was used by the carabinieri. Located on GR-5209.

Things to see outside the town

Yacimiento Arqueológico de la Rijana
The rock on which the archaeological site is located divides two coves; the Rijana, and the Rijanilla. From the caliphal era there are remains of a fortification intended to house a group of men who guarded these coves. During the Nasrid era, the entire rock platform was used, both for habitation and for defence, but it was not until Christian times, that the two best-known elements were built: the tower and the cistern. At the bottom of the cliff are the remains of a late Roman hydraulic structure. Please note that access to the archaeological area must be done with the utmost care, as it is in a somewhat dangerous position. Located west of the town, on the N-340.

Torre de la Rijana
The tower dates back to the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, and was built on an old caliphal structure reused in the Nasrid era. Its floor plan is rectangular, made of masonry with lime and sand mortar, it has a height of 3.5m. Attached to the tower there is a rectangular room with remains of the beginning of a vault that would correspond to the old cistern. According to some studies, it is of Roman origin and it has had multiple uses throughout its history. Currently it is a small unstable ruin overlooking a cove. The tower's fame grew recently after the filming of Al Sur de Granada. Located west of the town, on the N-340.

Beaches

Of the various beaches here, Cala de la Rijana is the most well-known, and it is especially popular with scuba-divers, and is in fact one of the best places on the Costa Tropical to go scuba-diving. Fishing is also popular in this area too Sotillo-Castell beach was awarded a blue flag in 2021.

GASTRONOMY

Traditional dishes to try in Gualchos are caldereta de pescado (fish stew), migas con sardinas o habas (a dish made with bread, garlic, olive oil and sardines or broad beans), boquerones secos (dried anchovies) and fideos aparte (pasta stew). Sweet treats include roscos (aniseed biscuits), buñuelos (doughnuts) and a variety of pastries made with almonds and dried figs.

Bus Service

There are bus services from Castell de Ferro to Granada, Motríl, Salobreña, La Herradura, Almería, Almuñécar and Albondón. More>

Festivals

Popular festivals in Gualchos are Día de la Candelaria, Festival de San Miguel, Fiestas de las Cruces, Fiestas del Turista and Semana Santa. More>