Benamaurel: Hafas de la Moraleda, cave houses and Senda del Guardal

Benamaurel allows you to discover a landscape of cave houses, meadows and ravines of the Granada Geopark. To prepare for the visit, distinguish the walk through the town center and the viewpoints from a hiking outing: the Senda del Guardal has a length that requires organizing the day and the return.

Hafas de la Moraleda: heritage excavated on the plain

The Benaurel City Council presents the Hafas as a complex of excavated medieval architecture, located on the plain of the Guardal River. He publishes a study of the Hafas de la Moraleda, with historical documentation, plans and surveys of the complex.

Their interest is in understanding how the habitat adapted to the relief and materials of the terrain. The heritage documentation does not prove that you can enter any cave: request information about the open trail, the observation points and the possibility of an authorized visit for your date.

Use the authorized paths and respect local indications. Avoid edges, deteriorated access and unauthorized entrances to caves. To photograph the group, choose a safe point and keep your distance from the cuts.

Fort neighborhood and old castle

The municipal section Corners of Memory locates the old castle in the El Fuerte neighborhood, between the Church of the Annunciation and the Hafas viewpoint. He explains that there are hardly any visible remains.

Prepare this stop as an approach to the site of the old fortress and the urban landscape. It is not presented as a complete castle with a tourist entrance, visitable areas or a confirmed guided tour.

Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation

The parish of Benamaurel is dedicated to Our Lady of the Annunciation, as confirmed by the directory of the Diocese of Guadix. The municipal heritage description places the temple next to the Town Hall and explains its Mudejar origin and its subsequent transformations.

You can include the surroundings of the church in the walk. To enter, confirm the opening and respect religious acts; There is no continuous tourist schedule or access to the tower here.

Senda del Guardal: prepare a 16 km route

The municipal file for the Senda del Guardal describes a circular route of 16 km, with 330 m of ascent gradient and 330 m of descent. Post an estimated time of 4 hours and 40 minutes; It is not a guarantee of the time your group will spend.

The itinerary starts from the Plaza Mayor, runs through ravines and the Guardal plain, and returns to the town center through the Hafas de la Moraleda and the La Alhanda neighborhood. The file includes the Corral del Minado viewpoint around the middle of the route.

Check the route and its status before leaving. Check forecasts, access points and return times; The published file does not prove that all the steps are operational today. Bring water, food, grippy shoes and plenty of light. Don’t treat the 16 km as a short walk at the end of the city tour.

Cave houses, local life and traditions

La Alhanda is part of the troglodyte landscape described in the municipal itinerary. When walking, distinguish public spaces from private homes. The inhabited cave houses are not open to visits because they appear in a guide.

The City Council also documents the Moors and Christians festivals, linked to the devotion to the Virgen de la Cabeza. If that is the reason for your trip, consult the program corresponding to the year and the conditions of the events; A confirmed calendar of events is not published here.

Organize the visit, transportation and return

For a first outing you can focus on the core, the surroundings of the church and the observation of the Hafas through confirmed accesses. If you choose the Senda del Guardal, organize the day around the route and the group’s capabilities.

The City Council publishes its headquarters at plaza Mayor, 1, the telephone number 958 733 011 and the email aytoinfo@benamaurel.es. Request information about heritage, trails and services for your date.

By car, prepare to arrive at the specific destination and use authorized parking. If you depend on public transport, confirm with the operator the stop that Benamaurel serves, the departure and return times. A transfer from Baza or Guadix or a specific travel time is not guaranteed here.

To eat or stay, check the opening, availability and dietary needs directly with the establishment. If you have mobility difficulties, ask about slopes, stairs and access to the point you want to visit before choosing the route.