Cónchar: Wine, Trails and Moorish Towers

Cónchar lies at the foot of the Sierra de las Albuñuelas and on the Río Dúrcal. The rural landscape around Cónchar includes orange and lemon groves, vineyards, almond and olive trees, as well as other fruit trees. The access road from the nearby A-44 runs through vineyards and almond trees; the Sierra Nevada can be seen on the horizon.

Culture and History

The annual calendar in Cónchar is marked by established festivals: the Fiesta del Mosto has been celebrated every year on 6 January since 1984. During the festival, Cónchar wine and the local salad “remojón conchúo” are distributed in the church square; visitors must bring their own jug to be served the wine. The Rifa de Ánimas takes place every year on 1 January in Plaza de San Pedro in Cónchar.

The Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro was built between 1610 and 1614 to designs by Ambrosio de Vico. The Torre de Cónchar is a cylindrical watchtower from the Arab period and measures 6.50 metres; it is classified as a monument of military architecture and as a Bien de Interés Cultural.

The Islamic necropolis at Pago del Portichuelo dates from the Nasrid period, from the 13th to the 15th century. It served as the cemetery of the village of Cónchar and comprised 152 graves. The Atalaya de Cónchar is a watchtower of Nasrid origin from the same period and formed part of a network for defence and visual communication. From the Atalaya, views extend across the Lecrín Valley; Cozvíjar lies in the background, and the Sierra Nevada can be seen on the horizon.

Landscape and Water

The Acequia Real de Conchar draws its water from the Río Dúrcal and irrigates the Vega of Cónchar. It lies north and west of the town centre in the area of the orchards and is catalogued as ethnological irrigation infrastructure. Near Cónchar, the Río Dúrcal and the Río Alcázar converge, creating an orchard landscape with orange, olive and other fruit trees.

The waterfall locally known as “cascada del baño” lies on the Arroyo del Alcázar. It is suitable for swimming, has one deeper pool and one smaller pool, and flows into one of the tributaries of the Río Dúrcal. The local wine landscape also includes Bodega Señorío de Nevada S.L., which was founded in 1996 and is based in Cónchar.

Hiking Trails

The circular Ruta del Arroyo del Alcázar is 7.6 kilometres long and has a high technical difficulty level. The Ruta de Las Fuentes y Atalaya de Cónchar is a 10.49-kilometre circular route with a high technical difficulty level. It begins at the Iglesia de Cónchar and follows the river and the Acequia de los Arcos to the Castillo de Lojuela and Murchas. Different route lengths and technical details provide a concise basis for comparison.

The Cónchar–Melegís circular route begins in Cozvíjar, passes through Cónchar and Melegís, and is approximately 15 kilometres long; it is considered not very demanding. On this route, the trail follows the right bank of the Río Dúrcal. In some places, the river must be crossed via tree trunks or a series of rocks placed next to one another. The return journey to Cónchar offers views of the Sierra Nevada, the Sierra del Manar and Dúrcal.

To the main travel overview: Granada.