Beires: history, mining, nature and Alpujarra charm
Beires - Almería

Otras ubicaciones

Beires is in a privileged position thanks to its special location in Almería’s Alpujarra, at an altitude of 917 metres and standing at a crossroads of the two roads which provide access to the Sierra, both towards Laujar and Fondón and towards Ohanes.

Its scenic beauty and unique architecture, with its white houses, steep streets, old orchards and ponds, the magic of the water. All this gives it a special charm.

Its small population of some 130 inhabitants, mean it is a quiet, relaxing place, ideal for a break.

Beires has managed to preserve its natural landscape and its traditional agriculture in many of its old orchards, carefully cultivated by its residents.

This beautiful corner, located in the Sierra Nevada National Park, offers multiple possibilities for enjoying active, cultural, nature and gastronomic tourism. You can discover its history, closely linked to mine ironing, in the Interpretation Centre and Mining Museum. We can also follow the Urban Mining Route, along which we find informative panels in different streets of the village. The more active can do the route to the Mining Reserve, along the path that the miners used every day.

Beires has an important historical heritage. The first reference point is the Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia parish church, dedicated to the village’s patron saint, San Roque, which was built around 1676 and enlarged around 1782. The nearby square and viewpoint are the ideal place to rest and contemplate the landscape.

Strolling through its streets is a real luxury. At the entrance of the old Zambrón area, the old settlement of Beires, you find the Ánimas hermitage, small in size but much appreciated by residents, with a long tradition in the village, and next to it, the Chorrillo Fountain, key in the history of Beires.

A walk around these streets is an experience for all the senses. Flowers, white, singular trees. We can’t miss a visit to the Zambrón Bridge, which divides the village into two neighbourhoods. By the side of the bridge we find the La Pileta irrigation pond, which irrigates part of the orchards and which is surrounded by leafy trees.

Outside the village, in a strategic spot for looking out over the whole valley, you find the Castle, known by locals as “the castle of the Moors.” Some sections of wall and remains of towers and a water cistern are conserved. Declared Asset of Cultural Interest in 1993, it is of caliphal origin, but gained importance in the Nasrid Kingdom. It cannot be visited at the present time.

Close to Beires there is also the 16th Century the Desamparados hermitage, shared with Almócita and Padules.

For lovers of active tourism and nature there is a route from the village to the Nacimiento Recreational Area, a place of high environmental value, by the side of the ravine of the mills, the Upper and the Lower, which transports us to another time of grain and water mills in abundance. As well as this short path there is another which goes up to the Mining Reserve, more difficult, but with some spectacular views.

In addition, Beires has a quality rural accommodation offer, with private establishments and a municipally owned hostel. There is no lack of gastronomic offer in which to taste the products and flavours typical of the region.

Beires is a luxury for the senses. An oasis of tranquillity in the middle of the Alpujarras.