Rural Tourism Granada, Andalusia


	Yesterday & today

Balzaín from Carreteros's Pinetrees.

Balzaín has an extension of 80 has.
It has several dispersed constructions
linked by a pathway.

The oldest building is known as
" Caserío Fuente del Álamo "
dating back to the 17th century.

Yesterday

In earlier times, the "Fuente del Álamo"
was a natural shelter for shepherds who used to camp close to the spring below the rocks. Afterwards, they built a hut over the spring and a rocked wall as a fence locking the sheepfold for the livestock.
Later, a permanent settlement was built and they started growing crops, so why it became necessary to buid houses: stables, granaries and a pond to save water, originating what is now Cortijo Balzaín.

The primitive hut was made into a dovecote, that was very important to its inhabitants, as the many breeding nests that have been conserved give proof of. Doves were the main food resources during those times. Doves didn't need to be fed, were great breeders, and were the protein base of many soups and stews.

Step by step, Balzain was transformed into an attractive place and became the reference to be enjoyed by any mountaineer who loved Sierra Nevada. It was the first resting point in the route, to have a drink of fresh water from its crystalline spring or a refreshing bath could be taken in the pond.

Our sheepflock

The hut before restauration

The Spring

The great mountaineer, P.Ferrer, in his book about Sierra Nevada, described Balzain as follows:

"Balzaín is a white country house protected by its old chestnut trees, its paths lined by walnut trees and the small water canals flow with the countryside peace. A spring brook, born among the rocks softly murmurs a song of things and memories. And the almond groves on the slope and the high topped pine trees, give the lanscape a sentimental and delicate enviroment."

Balzaín was also, for a very long time, a gathering place for pilgrimages from nearby villages, who used to come with decorated farm wagons and profusely adorned horses ridden by their owners with beautiful women seated behind them and hundreds of pilgrims.
They all used to spend the day under the shadow of the walnut tress and blooming almond trees, refreshed by the streams that crossed the fields and under the protection of the "Virgin of Balzain" ,
enthroned in the cave where the spring is born.

Presently Balzaín is an agricultural enterprise dedicated
to the processing of almonds and honey, and after
restoring of its buildings it has been
opened for Rural Tourism.

Today

A few words concerning to the Restoration Proyect for Rural Tourism...

When we decided to restore the old Caserio, we planned to recover its history
without adding any strange element nor artificial decoration.

The simplicity of rural life shouldn't be altered.
Nor should the ancient farm tools be used as decoration, as this would reduce the dignity of farm hard work. So, we open small museum where these tools are exhibited with respect in memory of the hard work done in this farm by its people.

The result of this insistence are the rural houseswith the authentic rustic atmosphere of an andalusian cortijo, where the original structure and the ancient materials, that give these country houses their special character and beauty, have
been respected.

In short, we have just emphasied the beauty of rustic elements of this cortijo, giving them the importance they deserve and installing cottages within its limits, with all the comfort that is required today for you to enjoy peace and quietness in a rural ambient in the depths of nature. We wish Balzain all the best in future and guests who visit it, to feel the spirit we tryed to put on its restoration.

I.R. y G.R.

Best Private Entreprise Award in Rural Tourism...