Castril

About Castril

Castril lies at 890 metres in north-east Granada province, on the edge of the Sierra de Castril Natural Park, where the Río Castril cuts a gorge past the Peña de Castril. Under Islam it was Hisn Qastal, and its castle, of Almohad origin, passed to Castile in 1488. José Saramago was an adopted son, as his wife Pilar del Río was born here. The centre is a Conjunto Histórico; about 1,900 people live in the municipality.

Stairways climb from the Casa del Sol to the castle remains on the Peña, with cisterns, walls and a small mosque, and a statue of the Sacred Heart on the summit above the rooftops. The Casa del Sol holds the tourist office and a free museum of green glass from a factory founded under the Catholic Monarchs. The church of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles has 16th- and 17th-century portals.

Castril is about 150 km from Granada, 1 hour 50 minutes via Baza. Park at the village entrance. Streets are steep and the castle climb is all steps, not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Castle tickets cost €3 (reduced €1.50) at the tourist office. Allow half a day, a full day with the gorge walkway. It suits walkers and families with steady children.

Spring and autumn are best. Bonfires mark Santa Lucía on 13 December and San Antón on 17 January, the Fiesta de las Migas ends the summer and the autumn fiestas bring bull-running in the streets. Try maimones (garlic and bread soup), gachas and leche merengada with mistela.

Castril in pictures

What you’ll find

• Car parkParkingFree
• CastleCastle entry (€2–€3, 11:00–14:00)Ticket
• ChurchChurch visitFree
• FestivalAnnual festivalFree
• Guided tourGuided tourBook
• Hiking trailHikingFree
• Historic centreOld town walkFree
• Local foodLocal cuisineBuy
• Moorish quarterMoorish heritage walkFree
• MuseumFree museum (11:00–14:00)Free
• Natural poolWild swimmingFree
• Tourist officeVisitor information (11:00–14:00)Free
• ViewpointSightseeingFree

Nearby places to visit

Right below the village, the Cerrada del Río Castril (0 km) is a short walkway loop through the river gorge on boardwalks, a hanging bridge and a tunnel. To the north-west, in the Sierra de Cazorla, the Cueva del Agua de Tíscar (22 km) is a cave with a waterfall below the Tíscar sanctuary. Southwards, Playas del Negratín (24 km) are reservoir beaches for summer swimming, and the red badlands and dolmens of the Gorafe Desert (35 km) are further on. East across the Altiplano, Galera (21 km) is a village of cave houses with a museum on the Bronze Age.