History of Chimeneas
The town consists of two population centres: Chimeneas and its hamlet, Castillo de Tajarja. Situated north of the Temple plateau and bordering the Vega de Granada, the two centres share characteristics of both regions. While the exact origin of the town is unknown, some archaeological remains dating back to pre-Arab times have been found.
According to historical records, the population centre of Chimeneas has existed since the time of Muslim rule. It originated as a Nasrid farmhouse called Dúllar, which was home to several families. Over time, it grew and gained importance. Following the Christian Reconquest by the Catholic Monarchs, it became a rural settlement dependent on Granada. In 1789, it was granted municipal status, which it retains to this day.
It is said that the Christian army was encamped for a long time in an area now known as Castillo (Castle).
The name 'Chimeneas' first appears in records from the sixteenth century, by which time the town had been established. The origin of its name is said to be due to the fact that the chimneys of the houses served as a point of reference for travellers, earning it the nickname "the farmhouse of the chimneys" in the early years of the Conquest of Granada. It is also said that Queen Isabella stayed in one of the houses in Chimeneas before the surrender of the city of Granada to the Catholic Monarchs.
In Castillo de Tajarja, remains from pre-Arab times have also been found. However, the first documented history of the area speaks of the Arab fortress that Fernando "el Católico" ordered to be destroyed. Only three horseshoe arches and several metres of crenellated wall remain standing today. In the 1940s and 1950s, most of this municipality's population lived in caves located in the nearby ravines, some of which can still be seen today in a state of disrepair. These caves were abandoned in the 1960s due to emigration from Andalusia to Catalonia and abroad. Before this, agriculture and livestock farming were the only resources, as well as several gypsum quarries in the municipality of Chimeneas, which provided work for many families in the construction industry.
A significant percentage of the population lived in farmsteads, one of which, La Zahora, was located between Castillo de Tajarja and Cacín. The aforementioned ravines, through which a considerable amount of water flows, were used to create a water-powered mill owned by a family from Chimeneas. This mill was used to grind wheat for bread made in a town centre bakery, which was subsequently sold to the municipality's inhabitants. The walls of the building and the millstones, which were moved by water from the ravine, can still be seen in this mill.
Between Chimeneas and Castillo de Tajarja, there are several man-made caves surrounded by enclosures that were used to shelter livestock and shepherds during agricultural work. Notably, a natural cave located between the two localities stands out. Known as La Sima, it was adapted by humans to serve as a shelter. Before piped drinking water arrived in Chimeneas from the Bermejales reservoir in 1974, the town relied on wells and water tankers from other municipalities. Previously, residents would travel to a spring known as Fuente la Cruz, carrying jugs and earthenware vessels to collect water for their homes. This spring had a stone vault, which is still perfectly preserved, where the water was stored. Now, after years of drought, the return of the rains has brought the water back to the spring.