Dúrcal
The village of Dúrcal is situated in the valley of the Dúrcal River, on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, in the fertile Lecrín Valley. Throughout the Moorish period, the land in and around Dúrcal was used for growing sugar, as well as oranges and lemons, and these orchards still remain to this day. The largest cable car railway in Europe was once located here, but it was dismantled at the end of the 1950s. The Puente de Lata iron bridge remains. It was built by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel. The town has a population of around 7,000.
History
According to archaeological remains found, human settlement in Dúrcal dates back to 4000 or 4500 BC. These remains include a Neolithic clay and mud vase with incised decoration, some polished stone axes and a flint knife. Although the town originated in the Moorish era, remains of a Roman settlement have also been found. The location of Dúrcal on the route from Granada to the coast, as well as its fertile lands, attracted the Moors. The town's name comes from the Arabic word “Quasb”, which refers to sugar cane cultivation, although the area is now known for its lemon orchards and cherry trees. It was also called Dur-al-iqlim, which translates as 'pearl of the iqlim or region'. This has earned it its current nickname: the Pearl of the Valley. More.
Book Holiday Rentals in Dúrcal
Things to see
La Fábrica de Orujo
It is one of only three oil factories built at the beginning of the last century that are still standing in a satisfactory state of preservation today. The factory was owned by Pepe Martín and Ignacio Ferrer. The chimney stands as a symbol of the past. More.
La Choza-Taller del Esparto
This small, thatched, stone hut museum,. The museum's collection of tools and utensils, which were used by farmers throughout the centuries, was donated by local farmers and residents. The museum has also occasionally housed live animals, providing visitors with a more authentic insight into the traditional way of life of the local people. More.
El Puente Medieval o Romano
Although evidence of its origin only dates back to medieval times, the oldest bridge in Dúrcal is popularly known as the Roman bridge. The bridge is located close to the Camino Real (Royal Road) (GR-9067), which led up to the area of Las Fuentes, where the remains of a Roman villa have been found. More.
Iglesia Parroquial de la Inmaculada
The church was built by Juan Fernández in 1546 and has undergone many transformations throughout its history. Only the framework of the central nave remains of the original construction, featuring simple lintels and ten paired braces with a bow of eight on corbels in an inverted Mannerist design in the Mudejar style. More.
Ermita de San Blas
Built in the late 18th century on the outskirts of town along the Camino Real (now Calle Albayzín), the chapel sat on the route from Granada to the Alpujarra region. During the reign of Queen Isabel II in the mid-19th century, a new carriage road (Avenida del Sur GR-9067) was constructed behind the chapel. More.
Puente de Lata
The bridge was formerly located in the town of Gor and was built at the beginning of the 20th century to carry the railway line between Guadix and Baza. Following a series of failures, a smaller bridge was built and the original bridge fell into disuse. TEGSA, the company building the tram line from Granada to Dúrcal, decided to purchase the superstructure of the bridge. More.
Estación del Tranvía
The Granada Electric Tramway Company (TEGSA) wanted to establish an extensive communications network in the province of Granada, particularly linking Granada with the coast. The company decided to extend its line from Alhendín to Dúrcal. The line was inaugurated on 18 July 1924. More.
La Casa de las Damas
Jerónimo Terrón, also known as 'El Cítora', was an emigrant from Dúrcal who returned from America and purchased land around the Fábrica de Orujo, on which he constructed a substantial residence. This house later became the property of the fascist movement. More.
Lavaderos
Throughout history, washing clothes has been one of the most common tasks carried out by women. Until running water became widely available in homes, this task was carried out on the banks of rivers, in irrigation ditches, water troughs or courtyards. From the eighteenth century onwards, washhouses became places where women worked and socialised. More.
Things to see outside the town
Central Eléctrica de San Antonio
The remains of this former power station can be seen on the right bank of the Dúrcal River, along the Nico Molina hiking route. It was built by the Tuset family in 1902 and inaugurated in 1908. Several other privately owned power stations existed at that time. The nearby Molino de Juana also operated as an electrical power station until it was converted into a school farm. Both stations used water channeling systems to power their turbines via waterfalls. The building consisted of two distinct sections: the first, where electricity was generated and the turbines were located (these have now disappeared), and the second, which housed the workers. More.
Puente Antiguo
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Granada was experiencing growth, making it necessary to establish new communication routes. Bridle paths had to be replaced with roads that could accommodate carriages. It was decided that the section of the royal road through the Alpujarra, passing through Dúrcal, Talará, Béznar and Izbor, should be used to reach Motril. However, the royal road to Motril passed through Restábal and Pinos del Rey. More.
Natural Areas
Canal de Fuga
The canal for the power station starts at La Toma at an altitude of 1,650 metres in the Sierra de Dúrcal. Here, it collects water from the river pipes it to Cerro del Zahor. It then descends rapidly, dropping 758.5 metres. After the hydroelectric station the water is returned to the river where it supplies the Acequia de Márgena (Dúrcal), Marchena and Padul, This unique system is known to locals as the Canal de la Fuga.
Los Baños
The Dúrcal baths have been renowned for their beneficial properties since ancient times. This group of springs comprises two very different sources: the large Vacamía bath and the small Urquizar bath. According to legend, when the Moors who inhabited these lands found themselves besieged by Christian troops in one of their ongoing struggles, they decided to hide their treasures, including a life-size gold cow with diamond-set eyes and ivory horns. More.
El Peñon del Moro
The so-called castle is located on the hill of San Antonio, in a strategically privileged position approximately 2 km from Dúrcal. Visually connected to the watchtowers of Conchar and Saleres, as well as the Márgena fort, it boasts stunning vistas. The remains of a tower and a cistern have been preserved. The latter is the best-preserved structure, accessed from the north side via an arched opening. The cistern's floor plan is rectangular, measuring 5 x 2.1 metres, but its height is unknown as part of it has been filled in. The castle has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC).
El Fuerte de Margena
The Márgena fort, dating back to the Nasrid period, is located in the fertile orchards of the Márgena or Mahina plain. This area is irrigated by a Muslim irrigation canal of the same name. Since the sixteenth century, the name of the Márgena neighbourhood has appeared in various chronicles, such as the Books of Survey and Distribution by Madoz, and the sketch of the Marquis of La Ensenada’s land registry. More.
Countryside Walks
As you explore the outskirts of the town, you will encounter the historical plain of Márgena, a place where nature and history intertwine. Here lies the Márgena fort. More.
Bus Service
There is a bus service from Dúrcal to Granada. More>
Gastronomy
The main attraction of the cuisine in Dúrcal is the locally sourced ingredients used to make traditional dishes. Examples include aceite de oliva (olive oil), cereales (cereals), almendras (almonds), carnes provenientes de la caza mayor y menor (game), naranjas (oranges) and limones (lemons).
Festivals
Popular festivals in Dúrcal are Fiestas de San Blas, Fiestas de San Ramón, Romería de San Isidro and Día de la Cruz. More>
Weather Forecast
The weather forecast for the next few days for Dúrcal. More>
Tourist Office
The tourist office of Dúrcal is located in the Town Hall. More>