Bérchules
—  Municipality  —
Coat of arms
Bérchules Location in Spain
Coordinates: 36°58′N 3°11′W / 36.967°N 3.183°W / 36.967; -3.183Coordinates: 36°58′N 3°11′W / 36.967°N 3.183°W / 36.967; -3.183
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Andalusia
Province	Granada
Comarca	Alpujarra Granadina
Judicial district	Órgiva
Government
• Alcalde	Ricardo Zapata Toro (2007) (PSOE)
Area
• Total	69 km2 (27 sq mi)
Elevation	1,319 m (4,327 ft)
Population (2008)
• Total	836
• Density	12/km2 (31/sq mi)
Demonym	Berchulero, ra
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	18451
Official language(s)

Bérchules is a village and municipality in the central Alpujarra, in the province of Granada in Spain. The origins of the village are Arab. There are two villages in the municipality, Bérchules (36° 58' north and 3° 11' east, altutude 1.350 metres), and Alcútar (36° 58' north and 3° 11' east, altitude 1250 metres). The villages are on the road, Órgiva-Trevélez-Ugíjar, and their population is estimated at 900 and 300 respectively.

The river Grande de Los Bérchules flows past the village on its course from the Sierra Nevada to the Mediterranean at Motril. En route it becomes renamed Rio "Gualdalfeo" and is the main river in the Alpujarra. Like the area in general the present population has declined since the mid 20th century when the population was probably nearer to 5,000 inhabitants. Many emigrated to Germany, Switzerland, France, Brazil, Argentina, and to the coastal area of Almería, El Ejido etc.

The traditional agricultural was based on potatoes, apples and cattle and continues as the main industry of the village with tourism having an increasing economic importance. Since 2000 an influx of relatively affluent immigrants from northern Europe have also had an effect on the local economy.

Most tourists visit for the hill walking as the village is situated on the GR7 long distance footpath. Local attractions include the "fuente agria" a foul tasting mineral water with medicinal properties. Notable fiestas include New Year's Eve in August(First Saturday of August), the Festival of San Marcos, with processions of domestic animals (25 April) and Festival of San Pantaleon, patron saint of Bérchules (27 July), and the Festival of Santo Cristo in Alcútar (9 August).

External links[link]

• Photos of Bérchules
• Streetmap Berchules
• Casa Rural B&B El Paraje
• Hotel Los Bérchules

v t e Municipalities in the province of Granada Agrón Alamedilla Albolote Albondón Albuñán Albuñol Albuñuelas Aldeire Alfacar Algarinejo Alhama de Granada Alhendín Alicún de Ortega Almegíjar Almuñécar Alpujarra de la Sierra Alquife Arenas del Rey Armilla Atarfe Baza Beas de Granada Beas de Guadix Benalúa Benalúa de las Villas Benamaurel Bérchules Bubión Busquístar Cacín Cádiar Cájar La Calahorra Calicasas Campotéjar Cáñar Caniles Capileira Carataunas Cástaras Castilléjar Castril Cenes de la Vega Chauchina Chimeneas Churriana de la Vega Cijuela Cogollos de Guadix Cogollos Vega Colomera Cortes de Baza Cortes y Graena Cuevas del Campo Cúllar Cúllar Vega Darro Dehesas de Guadix Deifontes Diezma Dílar Dólar Dúdar Dúrcal Escúzar Ferreira Fonelas Freila Fuente Vaqueros Las Gabias Galera Gobernador Gójar Gor Gorafe Granada Guadahortuna Guadix Los Guájares Gualchos Güéjar Sierra Güevéjar Huélago Huéneja Huéscar Huétor-Tájar Huétor Vega Huétor Santillán Íllora Ítrabo Iznalloz Jayena Jérez del Marquesado Jete Jun Juviles Láchar Lanjarón Lanteira Lecrín Lentegí Lobras Loja Lugros Lújar La Malahá Maracena Marchal Moclín Molvízar Monachil Montefrío Montejícar Montillana Moraleda de Zafayona Morelábor Motril Murtas Nevada Nigüelas Nívar Ogíjares Orce Órgiva Otura Otívar El Padul Pampaneira Pedro Martínez Peligros La Peza El Pinar Píñar Pinos Genil Pinos Puente Polícar Polopos Pórtugos Puebla de Don Fadrique Pulianas Purullena Quéntar Rubite Salar Salobreña Santa Cruz del Comercio Santa Fe Soportújar Sorvilán La Taha Torre-Cardela Torvizcón Trevélez Turón Ugíjar El Valle Valle del Zalabí Válor Vegas del Genil Vélez de Benaudalla Ventas de Huelma Villamena Villanueva Mesía Villanueva de las Torres Víznar Zafarraya Zagra La Zubia Zújar