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Guide to Gorafe

Gorafe, in Granada province, is the location of the highest concentration of dolmens in Europe and is part of the Geoparque Granada project

By Nick Nutter | Updated 18 Mar 2023 | Granada | Villages | Login to add to YOUR Favourites Favourites Icon or Read Later

This article has been visited 6,931 times The Badlands of Gorafe The Badlands of Gorafe

The Badlands of Gorafe

In the middle of Europe’s southernmost desert, during the 13th century AD, the Almohad people of Baeza and Ubeda found refuge in the folds of a canyon high in the Altiplano of Granada. There they dug about 300 cave dwellings in the side of the cliffs and founded the village of Gorafe. The gorge became known in modern times as Los Colorados, due to its resemblance, albeit on a smaller scale, to the Grand Canyon in America.

Caves of Almohad

Los Colorados Los Colorados

Los Colorados

Almohad rule in al-Andalus had started to break down after a Christian victory at Las Navas de Tolosa, in Jaén province, in 1212 AD. The Christian forces marched south, and Baeza and Ubeda were besieged. Most of the inhabitants were burnt in the mosque at Baeza or enslaved. Those that escaped, scattered into the surrounding area and some of them found their way to the Badlands of the Granada Altiplano. They built cave houses in many locations including Guadix, Fonelas and Gorafe. The name Gorafe originates with the Arabic word ‘Gaurab’ which means ‘Upper Chambers’, referring to the caves built 150 metres up the cliff known as the Caves of Almohad’. The caves are interlinked and multi-storied to make defence easy. This style of cave-dwelling is known as Los Algarves.



Gorafe

Centre of Gorafe Centre of Gorafe

Centre of Gorafe

Later, the Islamic residents of Gorafe became Christians and they built the Nuestra Señora de la Anunciación church. A small village grew on the side of the valley. The church, even after many renovations, still has some Mujadeer design features. Today Gorafe has a population of about 450 people. Life centres around the venta that also seems to be the local estate agent, jobcentre and community centre. Industry is primarily to do with agriculture and artisan crafts. Residents make household goods out of the esparto grass that grows wild in the area. Some tourists arrive each year to take advantage of the walking in the Badlands and the village became known for its clear night skies, ideal for stargazing. Gorafe is a quiet place.



Discovery of Dolmens

Nuestra Señora de la Anunciación Nuestra Señora de la Anunciación

Nuestra Señora de la Anunciación

Since the 12th century, the inhabitants of Gorafe had known about the ancient burial mounds that dotted the landscape, but it was not until the late 19th century that any of the mounds were investigated. Between 1955 and 1959, a survey was undertaken that found evidence of 242 dolmens either side of the canyon formed by the River Gor. Dolmens are megalithic burial chambers constructed from massive stones. They were built by the Neolithic people of the area starting some 5000 years ago. As the 20th century became the 21st, interest in the megalithic history of Europe intensified. Gorafe found itself with the enviable reputation of having the highest concentration of dolmens in Europe.


Guide to Gorafe Guide to Gorafe

Video By: Julie Evans


About the Granada Geoparque (Geopark or Geoparc) project

View of Gorafe View of Gorafe

View of Gorafe

A geoparque (geopark or geoparc) is a well-defined territory, home to a valuable natural geological heritage. The most important parts of a geoparque, due to their scientific, aesthetic, or educational value, are called geosites.

In the north of Granada, surrounded by some of the tallest mountains of the Iberian peninsula, what we know today as the Basin of Guadix or the Guadix - Baza depression or basin was, for 5 million years, a lake with no outlet to the sea. Sediments, brought down by the mountain streams, were deposited in the basin in horizontal sheets. 500,000 years ago the basin drained to the west and new streams carved out the canyons, ravines and badlands that characterise the area, the most southerly desert in Europe, today.



Why Gorafe is in the Granada Geopark

Gorafe is a geosite due to the concentration of megalithic dolmens in the immediate vicinity, the Centre of Interpretation of the Megaliths and the geological feature known as Badlands.


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