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| In trevélez, we touch the sky |
Trevélez celebrates the day of the Virgen de Las Nieves, Virgin of the Snows, in the summer months. On this day the virgin is carried to the summit of Mulhacén and a mass is celebrated. The traditional belief is that this will keep travelers safe in the Sierra Nevada for another year.
If you want to hike to the peaks in the Sierra Nevada National Park, Trevélez is an excellent base with a well-trodden track leading from the village.
It is also the starting point for trips to Las Siete Lagunas, seven impressive glacial lakes set in the mountains.
For a shorter stroll, take the road next to the police station that crosses the Chico river from Barrio Medio. This leads to the Era de la Cruz, a old threshing floor from where there are fine views over the village and valley.
On the feast day of San Antonio,13-14 June, there is a dramatic re-enactment of the battle between the Moors and the Christians, Los Moros y los Cristianos.
As the Alpujarras were the last redoubt of the Moors in the late 15th century, this is a particularly apt theme for a village in the region.
You can see similar spectacles in the villages of Válor, 14-15 September, and Pampaneira,3 May.
If you´re visiting in early August, don′t miss the village pilgrimage to a tiny shrine on the Mulhacén, the highest peak in the Iberian Peninsula. The Romería de la Virgen de las Nieves is dedicated, as its name suggests, to the Virgin of the Snows, although Mulhacén rarely has snow on its summit in the height of summer.
The unique environmental conditions in Sierra Nevada and the microclimate around Trevélez, combined with the traditional methods of curing ham, make this famous ham one of the most exquisite and appreciated products in its category.
Most well-known for its mouth-watering cured ham, jamón serrano, the village of Trevélez is the highest in mainland Spain, at 1,476m.
Its clear mountain air is ideal for drying the sweet-tasting ham, which has its own Denominación de Origen.
The area comprises the municipalities of Trevélez, Juviles, Busquístar, Pórtugos, La Tahá, Bubión, Capileira and Bérchules.
The jamón is very aromatic, has a mild flavour, and with it’s low salt content, less that 10%, make it
a very desirable tapa to enjoy with a glass of red wine from any of Trevélez's many bars which have hams hanging from the ceiling.
The rounded hams, which are covered with a rind and having the trotter attached, are cured for at least 7, 14, or 20 months depending on the fresh weight of the each .
The meat is red and shiny when cut, with partial fat infiltration in the muscle tissue.
It has a subtle taste, being barely salted. The fat has a greasy consistency and is shiny,
yellowish-white and pleasant tasting.
Local specialities made with ham include habas con jamón (broad beans and ham) and fresh trout (trucha).
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Located at the head of the steep-sided and dramatic Trevélez river valley, the village′s population of around 800 is divided between three barrios: bajo, medio and alto. The lower section, Barrio Bajo, is the most touristy out of the three, and has the highest concentration of handicraft shops, bars and places to stay.
| In the highest part of the village, the delightful one-star Hotel La
Fragua 958 858 626 in Barrio Alto enjoys superb views and has an
excellent restaurant, Mesón La Fragua. Five kilometres outside the village is the three-star Hotel Alcazaba de Buquistar 958 858 687. All rooms have a living area with a fireplace and TV. The municipal campsite 958 858 735 is 1km out of the village on the Órgiva road. | ||||
Situated on the side of the mountain of Mulhacén, among ravines and hilltops, Trevélez is the ideal place for go hiking.
The township of Trevélez is a part of the
Sierra Nevada Nature Reserve, located on the northern slope.
The city
centre is divided into three clearly differentiated areas: the higher,
middle, and lower quarters. It continues down to the banks of the
Trevélez river, where trouts are plentiful, and the spectacular
high-mountain scenery attracts and seduces every visitor.
