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About the area of the Altiplano de Granada.

The Altiplano de Granada is in Andalucia, in the most North East part of the Province of Granada Spain. It is served by the towns of   Huéscar , Baza , Castril and Galera , with many smaller towns and villages dotted about. This high plateau (Altiplano) is surrounded by mountain ranges, Sierra de Castril, Sierra de Baza and Sierra de la Sagre with the high peak of Sagra ( 2,381 meters ). The landscape here is one of diversity. In part a barren, moon like desert which millions of years ago was submerged under water, over time the water flow reduced and the area dried up, to valleys that are 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 houses and 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 licenses, 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.

It is an area of great interest with superb archaeological sites and contrasting landscapes. To the south east of Huescar is the small town of Orce and its surrounding hamlets of Fuente Nueva, Venta Micena and Pozo de la Rueda , where the much discussed and significant remains of a prehistoric skull were found. This is now known as “El Hombre de Orce° (Orce man). There are also the remains of an ancient city from the Bronze Age dating back to 2,500BC this site is located on ‘el cerro de la virgen' (the hill of the virgin). Fuente Nueva is the most important site in this area with large amounts of flint, dolomite limestone thought to be ancient species of rhino, hippo, elephants and other creatures found there.

In the town is the Josep Gibert Museum located in the Keep of the Alcazaba de las Siete Torres (The Fortress Castle of the seven towers). This fortress dates back to before the 11 th century, the Keep ( La Torre del Homenaje) is around 12 meters high and was built at the same time as the castle, but was rebuilt in the 16 th century when damaged by an earthquake. In the museum you can see ancient remains from the four Orce sites, Fuente Nueva, Venta Micena, Barranco del Paso and Barranco León. The exhibits include man-made tools dating back 1.7 million years, fauna and human remains.

Fuencaliente is a natural spring in Orce that is open all year round, if you don't mind swimming with the fish that reside there! This pool is clear and fresh due to a natural supply of water at the base of the pool that is constantly bubbling away. It is the perfect place to relax and the water remains at a constant 21ºc all year round giving it thermal qualities. Next to the pool is a recreation area equipped with BBQ's and shaded by trees, a perfect place to spend a summer afternoon.

There are a number of open air pools in the area, close to Castillejar in Los Olivos is the Lago Artificial a municipal swimming pool which is open from mid June until the end of September. As with many of these pools there is a bar and café and an area to sit and have a picnic. Castillejar nestled between two rivers, Guardal and Ba rbatas, is one of the six villages to make up the region (comarca) of Huescar and located roughly midway between the towns of Huescar and Ba za and the A92. In its past Castillejar was a fortress, protecting against invasion from Murcia . It is ideally located to explore the area with the natural parks of Castril, Cazorla and Ba za within easy reach and the lakes of Negratín, Portillo, Bolero and San Clemente .

As with Huescar, Galera and Orce, cave houses make up a large proportion of the property in Castillejar and surrounding areas, with their constant all year round temperature of around 18ºC , they are a practical, if a little quirky, way of living in this area, where the temperatures can be extreme. Very hot and dry in the summer and cold in the winter, surrounded by snow capped mountains. There are areas of caves dotted all over the Altiplano.

The Altiplano de Granada is one of the most beautiful in the interior of Andalucia. It is a perfect place for outdoor pursuits, ideal for walking, mountain biking, cycling, fishing and hunting, as well as just enjoying the tranquillity of the unspoilt countryside. Stunning mountain scenery, beautiful lakes and rivers, pretty little towns and villages set into the hillsides offering panoramic views, miles of open countryside. The scenery is constantly changing, in spring the almonds trees covered in blossom, a little later, fields of red poppies and an abundance of different wild flowers and butterflies to the bare trees and snow capped mountains of winter. A fantastic location for artists and photographers.

If you like the sound of this and more, in one of the prettiest areas of Spain , experience a true scene of space and beauty, the lakes and rivers, but no crowds, just lovely open countryside! Why not visit us and let us show you our lovely area and experience the real taste of Spain .



The Altiplano de Granada has excellent road links, the N92, running from Murcia to Granada and beyond makes traveling easy. The coast, from the Costa del Sol and Malaga in the south to Almeria and the Costa Calida in the north are all within easy reach. A number of airports from Granada and Malaga to Almeria, Murcia and Alicante are all within a few hours away, offering a good choice of airports from the UK.

Services
There are small supermarkets in all the towns with larger ones to be found in Baza. There are banks, bakeries, butchers, bars and restaurants in all towns. All the towns are well catered for with schools.

Climate
The climate is continental, with long hot summers and cold winters. Snow is not uncommon, particularly in the mountains. However the sun shines most days and humidity and rainfall are generally low throughout the year. The average maximum temperature in January is around 11C, but can drop below freezing at night. In July the average maximum is in the mid 30'sC, but the dry climate makes that temperature much more bearable than it would be in the UK, or on the coast. The evenings stay warm so it is possible to sit out well after dark, but in the early hours the temperature falls, unlike the coast, allowing sleep

We are now offering the chance to spend two nights, in the area of Castril, with free accommodation (dependent upon availability). All that we ask is that you allow us to show you around this beautiful area and to show you some property that may be of interest. We can also offer collection and return to either Granada, Almeria or Murcia airports. If you would like to take up this opportunity please call Wendy on 0034 958 742 622 or email wendy@oldfarmhousesgranada.co.uk

Click here to view a map of the area