Lecrín 山谷：去格拉纳达半路上的橙花

The Valle de Lecrín is a green valley of orange groves and white villages about halfway between the coast and Granada. Most people drive straight through it on the A-44. For buyers who want space, village life and both the sea and the city close by, it may be the best place to live in the province.

Where the valley sits

The valley has eight municipalities. The A-44 motorway runs right through it, with exits for the villages, so the beach is a short drive down and Granada a short drive up.

Dúrcal is the main town, with the most shops and services.

The villages, one by one

Dúrcal sits on the edge of a deep river gorge. Nigüelas is high up at the top of the valley, the best choice if you want to be close to the mountains.

El Valle is one municipality made up of three villages: Restábal, where the town hall is, Melegís and Saleres. The other villages are Albuñuelas, Padul, Lecrín, Pinos del Valle and Villamena. Drive around them before you choose.

Orange blossom and the Feria de la Naranja

Oranges and lemons have been grown here since Moorish times, often among olive trees that protect them from wind and frost. The fruit ripens later than on the coast.

Spring is the best time to visit, when the orange blossom (azahar) scents the whole valley. In the week before Holy Week, Melegís holds the Feria de la Naranja, an orange fair with food stalls, concerts and workshops. Try the remojón, a salad of orange and salt cod.

Walking and cycling

The valley is good for walking. Old irrigation channels, the acequias, run along the terraces and make easy, flat paths, and the lanes between the groves are quiet. The back roads are good for cycling but hilly. Never cycle on the A-44 motorway. In summer, carry water: there is little shade on the terraces.

Why buyers choose the valley

Buyers often ask whether living here means giving up the sea. Not really: the beach is a short drive away, and because the villages are higher, they are cooler in August. Most buyers come for space: a village house with a terrace, perhaps some land, and more room for the money than a flat by the sea.

For days out, read our guides to Granada and the Alhambra and the Alpujarras.

For what grows when on the coast, see the tropical fruit calendar.

To compare areas, start with the Costa Tropical guide or the house hunter.