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Region - Berchules (municipality & fiestas)
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The municipality is formed by two towns, Bérchules and Alcútar. It is situated at 1,322 metres above sea level, which makes it one of the highest villages of Spain, and has about 800 inhabitants. The two towns are governed as one, but each still has its own school and church.San Juan Bautista, the church in Bérchules was built in the sixteenth century and has a wooden ceiling in Mudejar style.Santa María la Mayor, the church in Alcútar, was built in the seventeenth century.
The village was founded in the eighth century.There are two theories about the origin of the name Bérchules. According to the first one ´vergel´ derived from the Arabic 'berchul' meaning 'garden´ or ´orchard´. The second theory says that it derived from Banu Asad, a family that lived in this area.Alcútar stems from Aynalcútar, one of the four settlements in Moorish times, and which can be translated as ´fountain of joy´ or ´fountain of paradise´. There are quite a few fountains in the village. The most popular one being the ´Fuente de las Carmelas´. Those people looking for their better half should drink from this fountain, because according to its legend, they will then soon find their sweetheart.Down at the river, there´s a Fuente Agria, a spring of ferruginous water. Some people in the village say it has beneficial effects and go there regularly to fill up a few bottles of this rust-coloured water. In Bérchules there are five bars, one hotel-restaurant, one eating place and an open air summer nightspot. In Alcútar there´s one bar and a holiday complex with a restaurant and public swimming pool. On the road that connects the two villages, there´s a disco. There are five small supermarkets and a few bric-a-brac shops. In the Calle Iglesia there is an office of the Caja Granada and of the Caja Rural, of which the latter one has a cash dispenser. On weekday mornings a doctor gives consultations in the ´Consultorio´ next to the town hall. At Plaza Abastos you can find a farmacia (chemist), a public library and a correos (post office).There is a street market the 2nd, 12th and 22nd of each month.Telephone number of the town hall is (0034) 958-769001. San Marcos(weekend closest to 25 April)In Bérchules the patron saint of the animals is honoured every year. After a Holy Mass the figure of San Marcos is carried out of the church together with the figure of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of the farmers. Children in colourful clothes, youngsters in covered wagons, riders and villagers with their animals join the procession that slowly moves to Alcútar. Back in Bérchules ´roscos´ and animals are blessed and the breadrings are then handed out . San Pantaleón 27, 28 and 29 of July San Pantaleón is the patron saint of Bérchules and his figure is to be found in the church of this village. The days preceding the procession people whitewash their houses and the streets are swept clean. The faithful asist the Novena, a mass dedicated to this martir for nine days at nine p.m. San Pantaleón is honoured all through the year, but when his figure is carried out of the church on the 27th of July, it becomes impressively clear how much the villagers worship their patron saint. Santo Cristo de la Misericordia Second weekend of AugustSanto Cristo de la Misericordia (Holy Christ of Compassion) is the patron saint of Alcútar. In his honour there are Novenas and after Mass his image is carried in procession. In the evening there´s a big get together with music and dancing. It is one of the few weekends that we cannot guarantee quiet nights at ´El Paraje´.
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Rural El Paraje: walking holidays in Berchules - de Alpujarras - Sierra Nevada -
Andalusia - Spain |