Bubión

A TOWN WITH HISTORY

Bubión, Historical and Artistic Site

The municipality of Bubión is located within the territory of the Poqueira Ravine, made up of the municipalities of Capileira, Bubión and Pampaneira and constituting an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Historical Site category (Official State Gazette 29/11/82, Royal Decree 3237/82 of 12 November). This category is defined in Law 14/2007 of 26 November on Andalusian Historical Heritage, as “groupings of urban or rural constructions together with the geographical features shaping them which are significant in view of their historical, archaeological, palaeontological, artistic, ethnological, industrial, scientific, social or technical interest, with sufficient consistency to constitute units subject to clear boundaries.”

At the time, the declaration of Asset of Cultural Interest was innovative in that it included within its boundaries all three municipalities, encompassing the highest summits of the Sierra Nevada, and had the important effect of raising its inhabitants’ awareness of the value of the conservation of their cultural and natural assets.

Location

The Southern Area is defined by a boundary which, starting from La Loma de Piedra Blanca beside El Prado de las Juncias, heads south as it crosses the High and Low Ditches of Pitres – Haza de los Cerezos towards La Loma de las Tonadas. It continues along the latter as far as El Tajo de la Reina (next to the loading chamber), where it turns towards the Hermitage Ravine, crossing the Pampaneira road and the above mentioned Ravine and running parallel to the Poqueira River. It crosses the Jarila Ravine as far as the Cortina Mill, where it turns to cross the Poqueira River and continue through the Herrerillos Ravine, later turning towards the Ravine of Las Rozas de la Chorrera. It crosses the Poqueira River again, passing through El Tajo del Diablo and crossing the Almúñar Ravine towards the Jarila Ravine and continuing through the latter. It crosses the Pampaneira road and continues through the Tejar Ravine as far as La Loma de la Piedra Blanca, beside El Prado de las Juncias, the place where the boundary of this Southern Area began.

The Northern Area is defined by an envelope which, starting from the tangent with the Southern Area in the Ravine of Las Rozas de la Chorrera, heads north through Los Pradillos and La Haza del Sastre, following the New Ditch and crossing the Ravines of La Canal Haza Redonda, Peñón Colorado. Castillejo La Lomilla, Haza Doña Ana and Punita as far as the mouth of the Carrera River in the Puntal or Toril River, following the latter and the Lagunillos River as far as the Elorrieta Hostel, where it turns south parallel to El Tajo de los Machos, as far as the Peak with the same name.

From the Peak of El Tajo de los Machos it leads to the Carrera River through Las Chorreras de Carrera, continuing along the Castillejo Ditch, moving away from it as it passes the Ravine of the same name towards El Prado Escribano, El Caedero and Casilla del Mudo. It passes through the Ravines of El Peñón Colorado de la Canal and the New Ditch alongside the Ravine of Las Rozas de la Chorrera, where the boundary of this Northern Area of the historical site of Bubión began.

PLACES TO VISIT

Bubión Church

Burnt down during the Morisco Revolt. It was later damaged by the earthquakes of 1804 and was almost completely rebuilt. It has a high symbolic value in terms of its urban nature and the landscape.

Hondera Fountain

With two spouts it also serves as a watering hole. Next to the fountain there stands a transformed washing place, from which it gets its name.

Bubión washing place

With a flat launa roof and flagstone eaves.

Loom workshop

A set of two looms in perfect working order, kept inside a restored traditional house. It is one of the few traditional looms conserved in the region.

Traditional architecture

Characteristic examples of the traditional architecture of the area include the Tinaos in Alcalde Juan Pérez Ramón Street and the Tinao in Trocadero Street.

Hoya del Portillo

A recreational space conditioned in order to organize and restrict access to the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada. It includes a car park, the information point of the National Park, two viewpoints and a recreational area.

Alpujarreña House-Museum

A traditional house with two floors whose interior contains 500 elements related to traditional life in the town, including a wine press, a press and numerous fixtures and tools. It is located in Bubión Square.

Bubión Agricultural Museum

A new building constructed in keeping with the traditional typology, set aside to house elements related to traditional agriculture in La Alpujarra. Outside there is a thresher and an old tractor, both forming part of the museum. It is located next to the Eras de Bubión.

Hermitage of Saint Anthony

The Hermitage of Saint Anthony is located on the Hermitage road, on the right-hand side of the Cerezo Ravine. After it fell down, the hermitage lay in ruins until 2006, when it was restored, once again opening its doors to the residents of Bubión. The population of Bubión remember it with great affection, given that, in the 1940s, the boys and girls received their first communion and then celebrated it with chocolate and fritters. The last communions were held there in 1953. The hermitage currently houses the images of Saint Anthony and Saint Sebastian.

FESTIVALS

The patronal feasts

The patronal feasts are celebrated in honour of Saint Sebastian and Saint Anthony during the weekend nearest 20 January and the penultimate weekend of the month of August.  The famous Entierro de la zorra (Burial of the Fox) is very popular, a tradition kept alive by the children to bring an end to the festivities.

The chisco de San Antón

Residents and visitors enjoy the chisco de San Antón in January.

La Mauraca

The mauraca or chestnut festival is held on 1 November.

Saint John’s Day

There is quite a spectacle on the morning of Saint John’s Day, when the streets are decked with flowers and bright colours.

Cultural Week

The cultural week is organized in cooperation with all the collectives and associations in the municipality during the week prior to the celebration of the Patronal Feasts to commemorate Saint Sebastian and Saint Anthony during the penultimate weekend of August. Today it has been become a hallmark of the town and a first-class tourist attraction, encouraging and promoting the local culture. The programme seeks to be varied and of high quality, the main objective being to provide activities aimed at people of all ages so that they can enjoy every minute. Last year there were music concerts, charity activities, sports tournaments, workshops, hiking trails, guided tours, excursions, talks and so on. All thanks to the involvement of the whole town.

GASTRONOMY

The gastronomy of Bubión is very rich and varied.  The most outstanding typical dishes are the breadcrumbs, pepper gruel, young goat with garlic, Gypsy cuisine, asudara aliñá and fennel stew. And we shouldn’t forget the ham and the fine wine.

As for the desserts, Moorish pasties are still eaten, including the canned cake, fried doughnuts, rice pudding, fritters and papillos viejos.

ROUTES AND TRAILS

In the heart of La Alpujarra, in the Poqueira Ravine, the route passes through Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira, enabling travellers to gaze over one of the most beautiful parts of Spain.

Departure from Pampaneira

Counties: Alpujarra and Valle de Lecrín
Municipalities: Pampaneira, Bubión, Capileira
Length of the route: 9.8 km
Estimated duration: 3 hours 45 minutes
Departure altitude: 1,010 m
Maximum altitude reached: 1,430 m
Maximum slope: 630 m
Ecosystems: Mid and high mountain
Recommended time of year: Any time of the year

The route departs from the Information Point of the Natural Space of Sierra Nevada, in Libertad Square in Pampaneira. Shortly after leaving Pampaneira, it is possible to make out an interesting view of the town, comprising staggered houses with grey terraos, the name given to the roofs of the houses covered with a clay material known locally as launa. The path climbs gently through terraces of crops staggered on the hillside, dotted with fruit trees and other characteristic species such as the chestnut and black mulberry, testaments to past eras during which La Alpujarra had a flourishing silk industry. This cultural landscape extends along both sides of the ravine, on either side of the Poqueira River; this is also the legacy of the Moorish settlers who colonized the slope of Sierra Nevada. From the very beginning of the route the effects of human activity on the slopes are visible. The natural vegetation was replaced by terraced crops, which stretch along both slopes of the ravine and are staggered at levels reaching 2,000 metres. A complex network of irrigation ditches was designed to make this mountain agriculture productive and it is still preserved today. This network of ditches has great cultural value, not only with regard to agriculture, but also because of its enormous impact on the landscape and ecosystems.

A 45-minute climb leads to the houses of the Hondo de Bubión neighbourhood. The road crosses the lower part of the village, going past the church, towards the sports centre. It then leads up to Capileira, a little below and almost parallel to the current road. The road goes past refurbished farmhouses and crosses terraces of crops with a striking abundance of cherry, apple, pear and peach trees.

Hondo de Bubión neighbourhood

A 45-minute climb leads to the houses of the Hondo de Bubión neighbourhood. The road crosses the lower part of the village, going past the church, towards the sports centre. It then leads up to Capileira, a little below and almost parallel to the current road. The road goes past refurbished farmhouses and crosses terraces of crops with a striking abundance of cherry, apple, pear and peach trees.

Capileria

After a climb lasting about two kilometres the road reaches Capileira, the brightest town in the Ravine. This is not surprising, as it is the one with the most hours of sunshine. Travellers will cross Capileira under its tinaos and narrow streets, then go down to the river and continue along the route.

Eras de Aldeire

It is worth going to this natural viewpoint located on eras (threshing floors), in order to get one of the best views of the Poqueira Ravine. The path continues from the lower houses and leads towards the Chiscar Bridge.

Chiscar Bridge

The way back begins on the other slope, now heading south. The route goes along a pleasant path, without going up or down, passing old terraces and traditional farmhouses.

Haza Redonda Ravine

After crossing Haza Redonda Ravine, passing chestnut trees and vegetation typical of a humid and fresh area before reaching the Las Rosas Ravine, the path begins to rise gently until it crosses the ravine through a silver broom grove.

Viewpoint

Travellers then have before them a unique view of the towns of El Poqueira and their white houses with grey terraos, staggered on the hillside. Looking in the direction of departure, it is possible to see the upper basin of the Poqueira River with the hulk of El Mulhacén in the background.

Higuera or Mill Fountain

From here, following a descent through a small oak forest, we cross the river again over La Higuerilla or Mill Bridge, named because of its location beside an old mill. From here one option is to return to Bubión along the path which climbs through terraces and crosses the odd secondary ravine covered with poplar trees, as far as Bubión. We choose to climb back to the watchtower path and continue towards Pampaneria.

Plácido Mill

After continuing along the watchtower path and following a descent zigzagging towards the river, we cross it and take the path which climbs up to Pampaneira, passing one of the many hydraulic infrastructures which mark this Placido Mill route. After continuing the climb we reach the lowest houses of Pampaneira, where the route ends.

INFORMATION AND CONTACT

TOWN HALL

Plaza Doctor Perez Ramon 1,
18412 – Bubion (Granada)

(+34) 958 76 30 32
info@bubion.es
www.bubion.es