MOCLÍN
Moclín is located 35 kms North-West of Granada.
The nearest airport is Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén Airport (GRX) which is just 25 minutes’ drive.
It takes around 40 minutes to drive to Granada city centre.
DISTANCES FROM MOCLÍN
GRANADA CITY - 35 kms
Granada AIRPORT (GRX) - 31 kms
Playa de Granada BEACH, Costa Tropical - 105 kms
Sierra Nevada SKI STATION - 74 kms
CÓRDOBA - 135 kms
JAÉN - 72kms
MÁLAGA - 138 kms
MÁLAGA AIRPORT - 147 kms
History
Moclín has a history stretching back more than 60,000 years.
Walking through the dramatic landscapes, it is easy to imagine that you have gone back in time. Across the valleys slashed into the rock, there are numerous cave complexes dating back to neolithic times, and many of these have original paintings depicting the hunting of cabra, the Ibex, still very much in evidence here.
One of the caves still being studied by archaeologists has given up treasures that indicate people were living here over 60,000 years ago.
Strategically, it has been at the frontier of some of Spain’s most turbulent periods. Built on a stunning peak in the midst of Los Montes de Granada, the 13th Century Castillo de Moclín was under almost constant siege for 200 years from the time it was built. The castle was considered one of the ruling Moorish kingdom’s most impregnable fortresses, protecting the vast vega of Granada beyond.
“The smallest court of the Greatest Queen that Spain had ever known”
In 1486, Los Reyes Católicos, Isabel y Fernando, finally captured the castle of Moclín and for 6 years this was the “smallest court of the Greatest Queen that Spain had ever known”. In 1492, Isabel and Fernando finally conquered the city of Granada. On clear days, it is possible to see the Alhambra Palace from both the castle and the terrace behind Casa Higueras. Over the subsequent years, Moclín was one of 7 villages that provided the grain for Granada, and one of the beautiful buildings in the village, the 16th Century Posito del Pan, was one of the providers of capital for the original Bank of Spain.
The village hosts one of the most important annual religious festivals in Spain, Las Fiestas en Honor del Santísimo Christo del Paño, and as many as 20,000 people can descend on the village every 5th October to pay homage to a canvas depicting the image of Christ and the Cross. This painting was a battle standard donated by Isabel and Fernando to the village as thanks for their support during their time here.
This fiesta inspired Granada’s most famous poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca to write his play, ‘Yerma’.
In more recent times, the village again found itself at the frontier, this time in the Spanish Civil War when Moclín and the surrounding valley was occupied by Nationalist forces, and trenches remain dotted around the hills.
Amenities
Today, Moclín is a very welcoming rural village set in some of Granada Province’s most spectacular scenery.
The village has two bars and a chiringuito (beach-shack) that opens during the summer months and fiestas. There is a cash-point, a small village supermarket that sells a good range of essential items and a pharmacy. Buses run daily (except Sunday) to and from Granada.
Where to Eat
Every village in the municipality has at least one bar, and these generally offer very good traditional food and free tapas although opening hours vary depending on the time of year, so do check before you go!
Here is a selection of some of our favourite places to eat and drink in the area:
Breaking Bar la Plaza, Moclín. (Open Monday - Wednesday 08:00-12:00, Thursday 08:00-16:00, Friday-Saturday 08:00-Close, Sunday 08:00-16:00 )
A busy local bar in the village’s main square, opposite the town hall. With your drinks, there is a menu from which to choose your free tapas and these tend to be hearty and quite filling. Ideal if you are peckish after a hike and want to soak up a lot of the village atmosphere. At weekends, it gets busy here with Spanish hikers, and tables and chairs spill out onto the square and there is a lot of chat!
Bar El Salon, Calle Real 65, Moclín
Opening hours: Friday - Saturday 12:30 - 00:00 Sunday 09:30-00:00
Recently refurbished, good food, friendly with restaurant at the back.
Bar Juani, Carr Pinos Puente 12, Olivares
Opening hours Tuesday-Sunday 8:00 - close
Lovely bar/restaurant with big terrace. Good varied menu and delicious tapas.
El Rincon de Marcelo, Tozar. This is a lovely bar and restaurant in the neighbouring village of Tozar. In the summer, there is a fabulous roof terrace with great views back towards Moclín, and the food and wines here are always good. On a hot day, make sure you order a beer as it will be served in frozen glasses and will be so cold that ice crystals float in the golden liquid; divine!
La Fonda, C. Rafael Alberti, 17, 18248 Olivares
Opening hours Monday-Sunday 10:00 - 23:00 CLOSED WEDNESDAY
Great bar restaurant near the river. Delicious South American food at the weekends. Outdoor terrace.
El Chiringuito, Mures. (Summer only)For a beach-shack vibe, make for this characterful bar in the very traditional village of Mures. All the seating is outside under pergolas, surrounded by mature plants - you could be forgiven for thinking you are on the edge of a sandy beach. Very good tapas. Closed in the winter.
Climate
SPRING: April - May
Some rain possible but mainly sunny. Daytime temps around 18-25 degrees. Nights can be much cooler.
SUMMER: June - September
Hot, dry and sunny. Daily average temperatures June - August are around 28-35 degrees but can reach 40 degrees occasionally. The heat is dry heat, not humid so its really not too bad when you are in the shade. Evenings are cooler due to the altitude so it’s rarely uncomfortable to sleep.
AUTUMN: October - November.
Often short sharp thunderstorms but daytime temps can still be 28-35 degrees
WINTER December - March.
COLD! But often weeks and weeks of clear sunny skies. Sometimes temperatures can reach 18 degrees in the middle of the day but nights are cold. Expect early morning frosts, some lengthy spells of rain and mist, and even the occasional flurry of snow.
