Lanjarón, 500 metres above sea level, lies on the southern slope of the Sierra Nevada and is the gateway to the Alpujarras as well as being near to the beautiful city of Granada. It is a good location for visitors wishing to travel extensively in Andalusia as it is near the motorway to Granada and the Mediterranean coast as well as the road leading up further into the High Alpujarras.

 

Lanjarón is a popular tourist destination as it combines a health resort, famous for its spa waters, with the attractiveness of a typical whitewashed Alpujarran village. The healing waters of Lanjarón flow from seven natural springs and the bottled water is sold throughout Spain. The Balneario Health Resort provides baths, massages, hydrotherapy, saunas and mud baths.

 

Below the Balneario the Salado park is a lovely place to relax by a small babbling brook in the shade of large eucalyptus trees and beautiful views over the ravine. There are terraced cafes and frequent musical concerts and outdoor cinema (programmes available at the Tourist Information). Lanjarón still maintains a rural way of life steeped in Alpujarran tradition, with terraced farming and irrigation systems dating back to the Moors. Sumptuous vegetation surrounds the village - tall chestnut trees, almond and walnut trees and lower down the mountain, olive and orange orchards abound.

 

There is also an impressive ruin of a Moorish castle standing high on its own mound just below the village where the Arab population of the Alpujarras made their last stand against Ferdinand's Catholic forces in 1500. It is possible to walk to the castle or just enjoy the magnificent views from the town.

Lanjarón has 2 small supermarkets, a Friday morning market, bakers and butchers and various tourist and souvenir shops. There is also the health resort and 3 banks with cash dispensers. There is a bus service for trips to Granada and a once a day direct to Malaga.