Cave-houses sustainable accommodation

You find yourself at a certain distance from civilisation when you discover the cave-houses that, with time and a lot of patience, have truly become an ideal refuge for a rural getaway. Consisting of meandering rooms, the irregular spaces are liable to connect the visitor with nature itself in the form of a rock wall. These houses are not only charming, they also put the visitor in harmony with the environment that begins with their very climatic condition, because a cave-house provides a micro-climate that makes them very green friendly in times like today where global warming is hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles.

Cave-houses in Andalusia

The little square where the neighbours used to meet. The façade born from the dug out hillside - that it when it wasn't built from materials to protect against erosion-, the lounge and the kitchen where the traveller is received, strategically located next to the fireplace… the heart of the cave. The bedrooms, separated by curtains and cloths. The skylights to capture the daylight and which placed at the end of passageways which seem endless. A home extracted from the depths of the land which is most visible and converted first into a home and then into the epicentre of an unforgettable stay. A genuine experience.

For centuries now, these Moorish caves have been scattered around the landscapes to the north of Granada, places like Cortes de Baza. Monachil, in the district of La Vega de Granada, is a place where you can also find this type of sustainable accommodation. Not to mention the cave-houses of Guadix, also in the province of Granada, trustees of this great tradition. Or the unusual dwellings in Setenil de las Bodegas (Cádiz), whose location maintains a constant dialogue with the rocks.

Learning from El Sacromonte

Excavated in the steep sides of hills and gorges - here the intention was always to be facing towards the sun-, these cave-houses are also a classroom for imparting ethnographic knowledge. That's where you'll find the Granada El Sacromonte Visitor Centre, located in the Barranco de los Negros. It has a Nature Classroom which teaches visitors about the flora, fauna and crops grown on the land, as well as a Botanical Gardens and a traditional vegetable garden.

Because Sacromonte is a benchmark when it comes to cave-houses and it is also closely linked to the world of Flamenco. The blame lies with its "zambras" or gypsy celebrations: the La Rocío Cave and that of Los Tarantos, among others. But its inhabitants did not only live from Flamenco. Basket weaving, wrought iron, pottery and the loom were the usual trades of those who lived in them.

In favour of responsible tourism

Faced with wasteful use of power, the cave-houses as tourist accommodation imply a sustainable alternative. Their micro-climate enables you to enjoy a constant and pleasant temperature (you don't need air conditioning here). Given their orientation when built (south, south east, south west), heating is guaranteed, as well as a dry atmosphere. A constant average temperature of between 17 and 20ºC all year-round.

Some suggestions without leaving the province of Granada

In Sacromonte itself you'll find the El Abanico Caves, which are not only rustic and comfortable but also have a garden and spectacular views: No less than the Historic Site of La Alhambra and El Generalife.

In Monachil, the so-called troglodyte caves are not a mystery. For the traveller, yes. There are those like the Muntasal Cave-Houses, with accommodation like the Cueva de la Chumbera or the Pita Cave, which have been refurbished and opened for the ecotourism and have a really cool appearance. It is all worthwhile, if only to bathe surrounded by candles in the heart of a grotto.

The La Teja Caves, in Cortes de Baza, preserve that country feeling that so many of us are looking for when we get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Both in the bedclothes, the lighting and the décor, there is a rustic touch pervades everything. They are located in the heart of the mountains, with four reservoirs nearby (Bolera, Portillo, San Clemente and Negratín). Hiking and relaxation, all together.