About the area
The Altiplano de Granada is situated in the north east of Granada, Andalucia. Surrounded by a circle of mountain ranges, with a diverse landscape, in part a barren, moon like desert and down in the valleys lush and green. It is in this beautiful area that Old Farmhouses Granada is located. Covering the towns of Huescar, Castril, Galera, and Castilléjar down to Baza. We have property for sale to suit every taste and pocket from Cortijos, Farmhouses, and Townhouses to Cave houses, Reformations and New Builds. Pepe has lived in the area all his life and can help not only to find your perfect property, but help arrange mortgages, obtain building licences, plans for New Builds, insurance and legal advice etc. Our main office is in the town of Huescar also known as “Cuidad de la Paz” the city of peace.
In Huescar there seems to be a Fiesta almost monthly, no sooner have the Christmas festivities ended, then the Fiestas start. The first being the Fiesta de San Antón on the 17 of January with many religious activities but also a lottery to win a pig! The night before, families meet and enjoy el Remojón de San Antón – a potato dish with onions, olive oil, vinegar and salted cod (Bacaloa). Cuervo (a type of sangria) is enjoyed, with Careta de Cerdo (the face of a pig roasted in the fire). The Fiesta ends in the evening with a trip to mass and a procession.
The last weekend in February is El Carnaval. The children dress up and march through the streets playing music. There is a concert every night with music from an Orchestra. Large street parties (verbenas) give people a chance to dress up in elaborate costumes that have taken months in preparation.
Semana Santa (Easter) is the next big Fiesta and the whole week is filled with activities and processions with many floats carrying effigies of Christ and other religious themes, through the streets.
Cruz de Mayo (3rd of May) is in the main squares and streets of Huescar, decorated crosses (with flowers) are displayed with many food stalls (chiringuitos) serving typical food of the area.
Huescar has two Patron Saints, Alodía y Nunilón; legend has it that upon the death of their Christian mother, their Moorish Father killed his daughters because they would not give up their Christian Faith. The days before La Romería (always over the weekend) are full of celebrations, with the election of the queen of the Fiesta and lots of dancing, the children all dress up in traditional costume. La Romería de las Santas is 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus (Easter) and on this day the people of Huescar head out into the countryside for a picnic (La Romería) to a small church (Ermita) at the foot of the mountain La Sagra.
Every year in August in Huescar, the Fiesta of the Virgen de la Cabeza takes place. On the evening of the 14 August (Fiesta del Veraneante) there is a festival in the main square with much dancing, music, theatre etc. The following morning at 7 o’clock a statue of the virgin is carried from Huescar to a church close to the San Clemente Lake. All the people from the town follow the procession. The route is long and obviously very hot, but everybody likes to make this journey. Once at the church there is a mass and then everyone eats out in the countryside.
In October starting from around the 20th there is the fiesta Ferìa de Huescar, with bulls in the Plaza de Toros on the Saturday and many celebrations over the weekend, verbenas (street fairs), chiringuitos (refreshment stalls), performances and a fair for the children.
Going into December on the 6th is the Day of Constitution when Franco died and then on the 8th is the Immaculate Conception and the start, once again, of all the Christmas Festivities.
Huescar has a market every Thursday (other than Fiesta days), which is very Spanish, selling lots of fruit and vegetables and locally made produce. The market sprawls through the town winding through the streets.
Nearby is the local fresh water pool filled with fish and this is open all year round for those brave enough to take a dip and nearby is the peak of La Sagra with many places to walk and explore.
An interesting drive 25 minutes from Huescar passing by San Clemente, Duda and Fatima is Castril, a pretty town with white washed houses and steep cobbled streets typical of an authentic Andalucia village. There are bars and restaurants where local wine and tapas can be sampled.
The market here is on Friday and sells clothes, fruit and vegetables, it even has its own Organic stall selling locally made and grown organic produce. The local tourist centre has lots of information about the area, with maps available of local walks, information about the local fauna and flora and a museum.
The surrounding countryside is ideal for many outdoor pursuits, walking, cycling, fishing and bird watching and the nearby embalses (reservoirs), Portillo, Bolera and San Clemente are popular for swimming and canoeing.
During the summer the lovely open air pool is open in Castril and in August down by the park and river there is a musical festival that takes place every year, with a different event on each night. It is free to go and see.
The main fiesta in Castril is the first week of October, enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. The main square is transformed and there are nights of celebrations, including the running of the bulls.
A local delicacy of this area is a type of fungi (Las Setas) they appear out in the countryside after the first rains of Autumn. A trained eye is needed as amongst the edible mushrooms are many that are poisonous. They are normally fried on a plancha with garlic and parsley. Other local products are olive oil (Aceite de Oliva), honey (miel) and Las Mistelas a liqueur made from honey, orange peal and aniseed.