Cortes de Baza: Church, Castle Ruins and Mountain Landscape

Cortes de Baza lies north of the end of the Negratín Reservoir and is surrounded by sierras and mountainous landscapes.

Landscape

The Hoya de Baza, where Cortes de Baza is located, contains archaeological evidence from prehistoric, Argaric, Iberian, Phoenician and Roman cultures. When planning a trip, the natural environment and culture here can be considered as separate areas of focus.

Culture and Local History

The Iglesia de la Anunciación was built between the 16th and 17th centuries and is designated as a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC). It has a Mudéjar coffered ceiling made of pinewood, crafted by Moriscos from the surrounding area.

The Ermita de los Santos Médicos is located in the centre of Cortes de Baza and contains statues of Saints Cosmas and Damian. As part of Holy Week in Cortes de Baza, a procession takes place on Palm Sunday from the Ermita de los Santos Médicos to the church. The washhouse of Cortes de Baza was also a meeting place and a place of mutual support for the local women.

The remains of the Castillo de Abrantes are located near the town church. The Castillo de Abrantes was a small Arab fortress built between the 11th and 12th centuries to house the area's inhabitants. After the Castillo de Abrantes was demolished in the 1980s, remains of walls made from very solid rammed earth can still be found today.

The Torre de la Cañada has a circular ground plan, a diameter of 3.64 metres and is approximately 7 metres high. Together with the castles of Benamaurel, Cortes de Baza and Castril, it formed part of the defence system near the border. The Torre de la Cañada is located relatively close to the main town of the municipality and can also be seen from the district of Las Cucharetas.

Pilgrimage Route

The branch of the Camino Espiritual del Sur begins in Campo Cámara within the municipality of Cortes de Baza. It leads to the old road to Castilléjar. The branch of the Camino Espiritual del Sur described in Cortes de Baza is approximately 30 kilometres long. Its approximate length and the named starting and destination points can be incorporated into your own planning separately from the cultural sites.

The cultural sites and the pilgrimage route therefore represent different areas of focus: the church, hermitage, washhouse and castle ruins stand for local history and tradition, while the approximately 30-kilometre-long branch, with its named waypoints, follows its own spatial route.

When looking for accommodation in Cortes de Baza, holiday apartments are primarily assessed according to travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions. This information can be compared on the respective listing pages with your own travel period and preferred booking option.

Further Places

More destinations to discover: Láchar, Pulianas, Cacin, Válor, Jerez Del Marquesado, Zújar, Cádiar and Lentegí.

Back to the overarching travel overview: Granada.