• Region: Andalucia (Granada)
• Declared a global geopark: 2020
• protected area: 472, 200 hectares
• Towns and villages: 47 municipalities of Guadix, Baza and Huéscar. (Alamedilla, Albuñán, Aldeire, Alicún de Ortega, Alquife, Bácor-Olivar, Beas de Guadix, Benalúa, Benamaurel, Caniles, Castilléjar, Castril, Cogollos de Guadix, Cortes de Baza, Cortes y Graena, Cuevas del Campo, Cúllar, Darro, Dehesas de Guadix, Diezma, Dólar, Ferreira, Fonelas, Freila, Galera, Gobernador, Gor, Gorafe, Huélago, Huéneja, Jérez del Marquesado, La Calahorra, Lanteira, Lugros, Marchal, Morelábor, Orce, Pedro Martínez, La Peza, Polícar, Puebla de Don Fadrique, Purullena, Valle del Zalabí, Villanueva de las Torres, Zújar

Points of interest

The Granada global geopark extends over the depressions called the Hoya de Guadix and the Hoya de Baza and is surrounded by some of the highest mountains of the Iberian Peninsula such as the Sierra de la Sagra (2381 m), the Sierra Mágina (2187 m), the Sierra de Arana-Huétor (1940 m), the Sierra Nevada (3484 m), the Sierra de Baza-Filabres (2271 m), the Sierra de las Estancias-Cúllar (1471 m) and the Sierra de Orce-María (1612 m).

The area is characterized by its geological, geomorphological and paleontological Quaternary wealth and the subsequent erosion of the Quaternary sediments has created the particular landscapes of the geopark characterized by valleys, depressions or “hoyas“, as they are known locally. The area is also known for cave dwellings inhabited since the Middle Ages as well as for an abundance of archaeological sites that showcase its rich historical, artistic and cultural heritage, including 72 Places of Geological Interest (LIGS)

See also the Sierra de Baza natural park: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/sierra-de-baza/

Find a hotel in the Granada global geopark

Geological points of interest

Places to visit in the Granada global geopark vary from river valleys, ancient lava flows and viewpoints. All of these places are on the maps and guides available from many tourist offices

• Cerro Jabalcón knows as “The great viewpoint of the Granada Geopark” (El gran mirador del Geoparque de Granada)
• The Guardal river valley (Valle del río Guardal)
• The Baza ravine known as Barranco Gallego
• Sismites in Galera and Castilléjar (Sismitas de Galera y Castilléjar)
• The Peña de Castril
• Fuente Nueva paleontological site -3 (Yacimiento paleontológico Fuente Nueva-3)
• Badlands of Castilléjar and Galera (Baldíos de Castilléjar y Galera)
• Miocene series at Cerro Molicies (Serie miocena del cerro Molicies)
• The Marine-continental transition close to the Negratín reservoir in Cuevas del Campo (Transición marino-continental Negratín)
• The Gullies of the Rambla del Moral in Cuevas del Campo (Cárcavas de la Rambla del Moral)
• The Gor river valley rotational landslides in Gorafe (Valle del río Gor deslizamientos rotacionales)
• The pillow lavas in Alamedilla ( Lavas almohadilladas de Alamedilla)
• Unconformity of Gorafe (Discordancia angular de Gorafe)
• Travertines of the Baths of Alicún in Alicún de las Torres and Villanueva de las Torres (Travertinos de los Baños de Alicún)
• P-1 paleontological site in Fonelas (Yacimiento paleontológico Fonelas P-1 (EPVRF)
• Badlands of Gorafe (Baldíos de Gorafe)

Information / visitor centres

Apart from the main information centres in the towns of Guadix, Baza and Huéscar, there is also network of museums and interpretations centres spread across the region that are well worth visiting.

• Castril Castle (Yacimiento del Castillo de Castril).
• The Caves Interpretation Center in Guadix (Centro de interpretación de las Cuevas).
• Tútugi Necropolis Site in Galera (Yacimiento Necrópolis de Tútugi).
• Visitor Reception Center and Ecomuseum in Castilléjar (Centro de recepción de visitantes y Ecomuseo de Castilléjar).
• Archaeological-Ethnographic Museum in Puebla de Don Fadrique (Museo Arqueológico-Etnográfico de Puebla de Don Fadrique).
• Archaeological Museum in Galera (Museo Arqueológico de Galera)
• Almagruz Troglodyte caves and houses in Purullena (Hábitat Troglodita Almagruz)
• Castellón Alto archaeological site in Galera (Yacimiento del Castellón Alto)
• Municipal Archaeological Museum in Baza (Museo Arqueológico Municipal de Baza)
• Interpretation Center of Archaeological Sites in Ciya (Centro de Interpretación de los Yacimientos Arqueológicos)
• Megalithic Park and Interpretive Center “Megalithism of Gorafe” (Parque Megalítico y Centro de interpretación del Megalitismo de Gorafe)
• Interpretation Center First Settlers of Europe “Josep Gibert” in Orce (Centro de Interpretación Primeros Pobladores de Europa “Josep Gibert”)
• Valle del Río Fardes paleontological station in Fonelas (Estación paleontológica Valle del Río Fardes)

The official website for the Granada global geopark: https://www.geoparquedegranada.com/en/

clive

I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain.