Holiday apartment in Huércal-Overa: culture, trails and regional cuisine

Huércal-Overa is closely linked to its castle: Castillo de Huércal-Overa has been classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural since 1985.

Culture

The medieval Castillo de Huércal-Overa gained its greatest importance during the Nasrid period. Most of the preserved structures date from the 14th century. A decorative motif identified as “Hom” or “Tree of Life” was discovered in the stucco. The “Tree of Life” of Huércal-Overa, together with the example in Castillo de Gibralfaro in Málaga, is one of the few documented examples on the Iberian Peninsula.

The Iglesia de Ntra. Sra. de la Asunción has two towers and belongs to the Baroque style, with a design inspired by Murcia. The parish church is listed as a monument in the General Catalogue of the Historical Heritage of Andalusia. Construction work on the Iglesia de Ntra. Sra. de la Asunción was planned in 1709 and completed in 1739.

Día del Villazgo de Huércal-Overa is an annual celebration. It commemorates Huércal-Overa’s independence from the city of Lorca, achieved on 3 March 1668. The festival includes historical re-enactments depicting key moments in the history of Huércal-Overa.

Trails

The Civil War trenches around Castillo de Huércal-Overa include underground, gallery-like structures measuring around 6 metres in length. Several routes between the Civil War trenches run through the municipality of Huércal-Overa; the trenches around the castle can be visited. A route to the trenches of Las Norias leads to three preserved structures that remain in their original condition.

The La Sierrecica route is 13.3 kilometres long and classified as moderate. The Vía Verde de Huércal-Overa connects Huércal-Overa and Almendricos along a route measuring 18 kilometres. The Huércal-Overa municipal government presented five routes that visitors can use on the Vía Verde within the municipality.

The Vía Verde routes are signposted. At various points, there are information boards with QR codes providing access to the complete routes. The Vía Verde de Huércal-Overa is considered accessible and has picnic areas, play areas and gastronomic facilities. The different route lengths and the stated difficulty level provide specific points of comparison when planning different days.

Water

The Museo del Agua presents the history of water and applied water technology. Its themes range from Roman and Arab waterworks, such as underground water channels, water wheels and cisterns, to modern systems such as drip irrigation, hydroponics and soil-free cultivation.

The museum includes outdoor areas with exhibitions, including a water wheel and a functioning fountain installation. Indoor areas display further devices and mechanisms, as well as educational information boards.

History

Yacimiento Huércal la Vieja is a fortified granary on a summit of the Sierra Almagro. The site provides insight into life during the Muslim period, particularly in the 12th and 13th centuries. Yacimiento Huércal la Vieja served as a communal storage site for agricultural products belonging to the farming communities of Huércal and Overa.

In addition, the direct place references lead to Almajalejo and La Concepción.

Cuisine

The Degustho gastronomic event includes show cookings, workshops involving active participation, as well as wine tastings and tastings of craft-brewed beer.

In La Glorieta, Plaza de la Constitución, numerous people gather to prepare Huércal-Overa’s traditional Christmas empanada: a white empanada with almonds.

Every year in Huércal-Overa, a festival promoting tapas culture presents products from the local Huerta and introduces visitors to the municipality’s main bars and restaurants.

For the higher-level travel overview: Almeria.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Terque, Nijar, Vélez-Blanco, Instinción, Suflí, Albox.