Bérchules
Encyclopedia
Bérchules is a village and municipality in the central Alpujarra, in the province of Granada in Spain
. The origins of the village are Arab. There are two villages in the municipality, Bérchules (36° 58' north and 3° 11' east, altutude 1.350 metres), and Alcútar (36° 58' north and 3° 11' east, altitude 1250 metres). The villages are on the road, Órgiva-Trevélez-Ugíjar, and their population is estimated at 900 and 300 respectively.
The river Grande de Los Bérchules flows past the village on its course from the Sierra Nevada
to the Mediterranean
at Motril
. En route it becomes renamed Rio "Gualdalfeo" and is the main river in the Alpujarra. Like the area in general the present population has declined since the mid 20th century when the population was probably nearer to 5,000 inhabitants. Many emigrated to Germany
, Switzerland
, France
, Brazil
, Argentina
, and to the coastal area of Almería
, El Ejido
etc.
The traditional agricultural was based on potatoes, apples and cattle and continues as the main industry of the village with tourism having an increasing economic importance. Since 2000 an influx of relatively affluent immigrants from northern Europe have also had an effect on the local economy.
Most tourists visit for the hill walking as the village is situated on the GR7 long distance footpath. Local attractions include the "fuente agria" a foul tasting mineral water with medicinal properties. Notable fiestas include New Year's Eve in August(First Saturday of August), the Festival of San Marcos, with processions of domestic animals (25 April) and Festival of San Pantaleon, patron saint of Bérchules (27 July), and the Festival of Santo Cristo in Alcútar (9 August).
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The origins of the village are Arab. There are two villages in the municipality, Bérchules (36° 58' north and 3° 11' east, altutude 1.350 metres), and Alcútar (36° 58' north and 3° 11' east, altitude 1250 metres). The villages are on the road, Órgiva-Trevélez-Ugíjar, and their population is estimated at 900 and 300 respectively.
The river Grande de Los Bérchules flows past the village on its course from the Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada (Spain)
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the region of provinces of Granada and Almería in Spain. It contains the highest point of continental Spain, Mulhacén at 3478 m above sea level....
to the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
at Motril
Motril
Motril is a town and municipality on the Mediterranean coast in the province of Granada, Spain.Motril is the second largest town in the province, with a population of 59,163 as of 2008...
. En route it becomes renamed Rio "Gualdalfeo" and is the main river in the Alpujarra. Like the area in general the present population has declined since the mid 20th century when the population was probably nearer to 5,000 inhabitants. Many emigrated to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and to the coastal area of Almería
Almería (province)
-History:The rich customs and Fiestas of the denizens retain links deep into the past, unto the Moors, the Romans, the Greeks, and the Phoenicians.During the taifa era, it was ruled by the Moor Banu al-Amiri from 1012 to 1038, briefly annexed by Valencia , then given by Zaragoza to the Banu Sumadih...
, El Ejido
El Ejido
-External links: - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía...
etc.
The traditional agricultural was based on potatoes, apples and cattle and continues as the main industry of the village with tourism having an increasing economic importance. Since 2000 an influx of relatively affluent immigrants from northern Europe have also had an effect on the local economy.
Most tourists visit for the hill walking as the village is situated on the GR7 long distance footpath. Local attractions include the "fuente agria" a foul tasting mineral water with medicinal properties. Notable fiestas include New Year's Eve in August(First Saturday of August), the Festival of San Marcos, with processions of domestic animals (25 April) and Festival of San Pantaleon, patron saint of Bérchules (27 July), and the Festival of Santo Cristo in Alcútar (9 August).