Cave Houses in Galera, near Granada

Cave Houses

These fascinating, unique properties with their rustic charm provide all of the services demanded by modern life. The cave houses are one of the most interesting alternatives that rural tourism has to offer. Dug out by their ancestral dwellers, they provide peace and comfort inside, as well as the history and traditions of the nearby villages and the characteristic scenery and activities of their surroundings. Underground houses constitute one of the greatest tourist attractions of these villages. Their troglodyte dwellings provide historical testimony of a form of construction which is still carried on and forms a unique adaptation of man to his environment.

Fully furnished with electricity and hot water as well as a ventilation system necessary for this type of building, the cave houses are impermeable and maintain a constant temperature, keeping warm in winter and cool in summer.

Most of the caves have one floor and are simple looking, with a small garden in front and a façade designed to take full advantage of the light.

Sizes vary, having between one and four bedrooms, but all have a kitchen, bathroom and dining/ living area with open fire. Most of the furniture is made from the same material as the walls and ceiling.

There are small wardrobes with lattice doors and kitchen cupboards in the hollows of the walls, beds with Arab style canopies and a base worked into the floor and baths excavated from the rock. Countless rustic touches such as rush- bottomed chairs, lace curtains and rocking chairs give these dwellings their originality. We have the sole rights to sell these unique dwellings which make an amazing investment opportunity, a very unusual holiday home which beats caravanning!

Galera

The caves are situated by the town of Galera which is in the northeast province of Granada, close to the Sierra Nevada, Sierra de Baza and Sierra de Castril, all declared national parks. There are high plateaux of red and ochre, deep green river valleys, mountain ranges and pine forests. Rivers are fed from underground springs and streams, as well as from the snowy peaks, and form lakes of pure crystal blue water.

The magnificent natural conditions here mean that you will find the richest and most varied flora of the whole Mediterranean region, in harmony with a varied fauna including mountain goat, fox, badger, hawk, owl and the royal eagle. You will encounter amazing scenery with each new step, arid plateaux are golden due to the abundance of cereals and almond groves.

Unusually, the high arid plateau is a desert which is full of water. Rivers, springs and streams flow in the subsoil, receiving water from the snowy peaks of the mountain ranges and what little rain falls.
For this reason thermal springs and spas constitute another of the region’s tourist attractions.
The area has a rich archaeological past and you will see traces of both Moor and Arab settlements. Roman, Germanic and Moslem occupation all left their marks but it was the Berber tribes who gave rise to the appearance of the cave dwellings.

The rich cuisine of the area uses fresh local produce, tomatoes, peppers, pulses, olive oil, potatoes, wild mushrooms, garlic, lamb, rabbit, hare and partridge give rise to an amazing variety of salads, soups and stews, highly praised by dieticians. Local craftsmen sit in the porches of their caves producing amongst other things, pottery, baskets and wooden cabinets just as they may have done thousands of years before.

For the more sporty type, there is horse riding, cycling, fresh water fishing in the Rio Castril, small game shooting and you are just one hour away from the nearest skiing area. In Galera itself you will also find a sports complex with football field and tennis courts and a swimming pool. Galera also has a large school, church and several bars and restaurants. Market day is Wednesday, Thursday in nearby Huescar and Friday in Puebla de Don Fadrique. Just two hours drive away is Torrevieja, along excellent, well serviced autoroutes.

There are many carnivals and fiestas, fancy dress parades and at Easter the holy images are paraded in silence through the narrow streets of many villages of the province. For a much more detailed description of this fascinating departure send for a free coloured booklet, you cannot fail to be impressed!

Prices from 52,900 euros, please contact us for further details.

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