Laujar de Andarax
Laujar de Andarax is the main village of the Almería Alpujarra, 906 metres up on the southern slopes of Sierra Nevada near the source of the Río Andarax, and was once home to Boabdil.
About Laujar de Andarax
Laujar stands at 906 metres on the southern flank of Sierra Nevada, facing the Sierra de Gádor across the upper Andarax valley. It was the Nasrid capital of the taha of Andarax; Boabdil lived here after 1492, the mosque was burned with 200 Mudéjares inside in 1500, and the Morisco leader Aben Humeya was killed here in 1569. The poet Francisco Villaespesa was born here. It has about 1,700 inhabitants.
The Plaza Mayor de la Alpujarra is framed by the arcaded town hall of 1792 and the Pilar de la Plaza, a Baroque fountain of 1684 with carved masks. Nearby stands the Iglesia de la Encarnación (1682–1686), called the cathedral of the Alpujarra. The 18th-century Casa de los Moya houses the Centro Hispano-Filipino. El Nacimiento, under 1 km away, has river pools and picnic areas.
Laujar is 62 km (1 hour 10 minutes) from Almería by the A-348 and about two hours from Granada; ALSA buses from Almería take about two hours. Park on the main road or at El Nacimiento. Allow half a day with a riverside walk. The plaza is fairly level, but side lanes climb steeply. It suits walkers, wine lovers and visitors touring the Alpujarra.
Spring and autumn are ideal; winters can be cold. The Feria del Vino is held in late April, and the Virgen de la Salud fiestas peak on 19 September with thousands of rockets. Try Laujar-Alpujarra IGP wines, migas, choto al ajillo and Laujar's mantecados. Phone the bodegas ahead for tastings.
Laujar de Andarax in pictures
What you’ll find
- Bus connectionPublic transportBuy
- ChurchChurch visitFree
- FestivalAnnual festivalFree
- Hiking trailHikingFree
- Historic centreOld town walkFree
- Local foodLocal cuisineBuy
- Natural poolWild swimmingFree
- Tourist officeVisitor informationFree
- ViewpointSightseeingFree
Nearby places to visit
Over the Puerto de la Ragua, the Renaissance Castillo de La Calahorra (26 km) rises above the Marquesado plain in Granada province. Down the Andarax valley, Los Millares (33 km) is a Copper Age settlement with concentric walls, small forts and collective tombs. The coast at Adra, with the cove of Playa de la Sirena Loca (30 km), is reached over the Sierra de Gádor. Closer to home, the neighbouring village of Fondón (3 km) has a Mudéjar parish church with a tall brick tower, and the botanical garden and trails above El Nacimiento lead into the Sierra Nevada.
Laujar de Andarax at a glance
Category
Culture White villages
Location
Alpujarra Almeriense, Almería
Town
Laujar de Andarax
Address
Plaza Mayor de la Alpujarra, 04470 Laujar de Andarax, Almería, Spain
Opening hours
Open access; the streets can be visited at any time. The Iglesia de la Encarnación opens for services. Tourist information is available on the Plaza Mayor de la Alpujarra (town hall, +34 950 513 103).
Prices
Free to walk around; the El Nacimiento recreation area and its trails are free.
Website
laujardeandarax.es
Phone
+34 950 513 103
More places nearby
Other places within 25 km of Laujar de Andarax, nearest first.
