Information about the town of Lanjaron

The moorish castle and Lanjaron townThe World Health Organization has recognized Lanjaron as one of the places with the greatest longevity on the planet. It is indeed the quality of its waters - together with the climate, the pure mountain air and the Mediterranean diet - that allows many of its citizens to live more than one hundred years.

The Spa Baths The spa has been the most important mineral-medicinal waters of Andalucia since the 18th century when its healing properties were discovered.

Eat and Drink

It is well supplied with small supermarkets and shops for all your "mountain needs". There are 3 banks with ATM's
Bar Flower - best tapas bar in town owned by Franci and Jeni
Bar Los Faroles - family run business good for breakfasts and lunches
El Volante - good drink and food from Jose Antonio
El Frenazo - Sonia provides good quality meals in a nice environment
Cafe Bar Health - More of a "Bistro" restaurant with great food including veggie options!

How To get Here

From Granada (airport
From Malaga (airport)
From Almeria (airport)

The Lanjaron Festival of Water and Ham

The Lanjaron Fiesta in full swingSince 1980, Lanjaron has celebrated Midsummer's Eve in honour of San Juan Bautista (John the Baptist) with its Fiesta del Agua y del Jamon (Water and Ham Festival), although the ham aspect has been overshadowed over the years by the liquid element. At the stroke of midnight on 23 June, the small mountain village erupts into the greatest water fight in Spain, and maybe even the world.

Famous for its mineral water, Lanjaron is the perfect destination for this crazy water war. Locals make sure they park their cars out of town in anticpation of the liquid onslaught that attracts revellers from all over the country and further afield.

At midnight, participants take to the streets armed with buckets, water pistols, and anything else they can get their hands on. Total strangers soak each other to the skin, while ladies spray the crowd with hose pipes from the safety of their balconies, filling up their buckets in the process.

By the time the whistle blows at the end of the fight, there is a river running through the streets, and all are soaked to the bone. After a quick change of clothes, the cerveza starts pouring, fireworks fill the sky and the real party begins. Over the next few days, revellers celebrate the calm after the storm with a feast of mouthwatering jamon (ham), another product for which Lanjaron is renowned.

The Moorish Castle of Lanjaron

The Castillo of Lanjaron Only its ruins remain over a rocky promontory near to the town. It is located about 600 meters of altitude. Its location was superb, because it dominated, on one hand, the access road to the Alpujarra and, on the other, the one that communicated Granada with the Coast. The castle was surrounded by a wall defended by two great towers of rubblework, one to the north, semi-circular, and another one to the south.

Fernando the Catholic King conquered the town in 1490. Its Moorish inhabitants rebelled again in 1500, a revolt that was controlled by the Christians after an epic defence. The captain who defended the place preferred to throw himself from a tower before surrender. It participated in an active way against the Napoleonic troops in the Independence War, its inhabitants receiving the qualifying name of “canoneros” since then.

The castle is currently being rennovated.

Weather and Hotel Links


INFORMACION METEOROLOGICA

WEATHER RECORDS (Kept by Spanish Highs since 2003)

ACCOMMODATION:
The town is well supplied with hotels. We use the Hotels Central (2*), Lanjaron (2*) and Alcademia (3*). All are very clean and comfortable. We can assist and advise with regard to choice. Please email or phone.
Hotel El Sol
Hotel Nuevo Palas
Hotel Paraiso
Complejo Turístico Castillo Alcadima
Hotel Castillo Lanjaron
Hotel Lanjaron
Hotel Espana
Hotel Nuevo Manolete

Lanjaron Fiestas

San Anton: 13 January
San Sebastian: 20 January
Carnaval: February
Dia de la Mujer: 8 March
Dia Mundial de Agua: 22 March
Semana Santa (Easter): March or April
Dia del Libro: 23 April
San Marcos: 5 April
Dia de la Cruz: 3 May
San Isidro: 15 May
Corpus Christi: May
San Juan: 24 June
Virgen del Carmen: 16 July
Santa Ana: 26 July
Fiasta de la parva: 1st weekend August
Dia de la Juventud: 10 or 11 August
San Roque: 15 August
Virgen de los Dolores: 21 September
Virgen del Rosario: 1st Sunday October
Virgen del pilar: 12 October
Feria de la Miel: October
Todos los Santos - Fiesta de la Castaņa: 1 November
Festival de Tango: November
Santa Cecilia: 22 November

Useful Information

Town Hall: Plaza de la Constitucion. Tlf 958 77 00 02
Doctors: C/Huertos. Tlf 958 77 95 78. Open 8am until 10pm. Emergencies tlf 112.
Tourist Information: Avda de la Alpujarra s/n. Tlf 958 77 04 62
Library:_ C/Cordoba, 3. Tlf 958 77 22 16
Post Office: C/Hondillo, 1. Tlf 958 77 07 34
Guardia Civil: C/Melilla. Tlf 958 77 00 05