Holiday apartments between lagoon, nature and culture in Padul

The Humedales y Turberas de Padul are the only endorheic wetland in the Province of Granada and the largest peat bog in Southern Europe. More than 150 species of waterbirds have been recorded across its 327.40 hectares; numerous species use the area for overwintering, as a resting place during migration or as a breeding ground. The wetland is designated as a Special Protection Area for birds, forms part of the protected area of Sierra Nevada National Park and is recognised as a Ramsar wetland of international importance. Mammoth remains have been found in its peat layers; mammoths lived there 30,000 to 40,000 years ago.

You can also visit the local pages for El Puntal, Moclin, Benalúa De Guadix, El Varadero, Guejar Sierra, Láchar, Moraleda De Zafayona and Ogíjares.

Routes and nature experiences

The Aula de Naturaleza El Aguadero next to Padul offers four routes around the wetland; the paths are easy and can be walked at any time of year. The municipality also offers guided tours on local routes, including the Ruta del Mamut and Padul Cultural.

The Ruta del Mamut is a 2.9-kilometre circular route that begins at the Aula de Naturaleza El Aguadero. The Ruta Los Quinientos is 7 kilometres long and follows the Iberian-Roman road. The Ruta Ojo Oscuro follows the Camino de los Molinos for 8.5 kilometres and leads into the wetland. The Ruta del Agia is 9.2 kilometres long and runs along the entire edge of the wetland.

The 10-kilometre Ruta del Tigre de Diente de Sable runs through Sierra Nevada Natural Park along the outer area of the Laguna de Padul. The 9.2-kilometre Ruta del Rinoceronte Lanudo is one of Padul’s prehistoric routes and runs around the Laguna de Padul. It passes through the Vega de Padul landscape to a simple wooden footbridge near the lagoon and continues to the Aula de la Naturaleza El Aguadero. The different route lengths can be compared directly when deciding how extensive an outing should be.

Nature and crafts

The Aula de Naturaleza El Aguadero offers environmental workshops, including bird ringing, recycling and responsible consumption. There are also craft workshops using esparto grass, leather and clay.

History and townscape

Padul has a total of 17 crosses, built between the 17th and 19th centuries. The Iglesia Santa María la Mayor was built in the 16th century over an earlier mosque and features Mudéjar architecture as well as Baroque and Renaissance altarpieces.

The Casa-Castillo de los Condes de Padul, known as La Casa Grande, dates from the 16th century, is located in the town centre and has a fortress-like appearance as well as austere Baroque architecture. The Fuente de San Joaquín and the Lavadero de Santa Ana, also known as the Fuente de los cinco caños, are a traditional 16th-century washhouse that served as a meeting place and is complemented by a bronze sculpture of a washerwoman.

The Centro de Interpretación El Silo in El Padul houses a traditional threshing board that was used for manually threshing grains such as wheat, barley and rye. Padul’s old tram station now houses the Oficina de Turismo del Valle de Lecrín and opened on 10 February 1923.

Festivals and regional products

The festival in honour of Saint Sebastian takes place in Padul on 19 and 20 January; large fires are lit using aromatic plants that the residents collected the previous day. During Constitution Day, Padul hosts a fair with more than 40 exhibitors offering honey, cheese, olive oil, wine and jams; there is also a wine fair and a Matanza event.

To the overarching travel overview: Granada.