The best walks and hikes around Cóbdar

The sanctuary of the Virgin of Cabeza de Monteagud, in Benizalón, stands at the top of Monteagud Hill and is one of the most iconic sites in the area. The hermitage, built on the site of an old Muslim ribat, houses the venerated image of the Virgin, a center of devotion for residents and pilgrims from throughout the region. Every year it hosts a mass pilgrimage that fills the area with a festive and religious atmosphere. For hikers, the climb offers excellent panoramic views, so it's a good idea to wear comfortable shoes and water.

Tahal Castle, nestled in the Sierra de los Filabres, was built in the 15th and 16th centuries to control the routes between the Almanzora Valley and Tabernas. Although it remains in a state of consolidated ruin today, its large rectangular keep, with its elevated entrance and masonry walls, is still impressive. Next to it, you can see the remains of a circular tower, the walled enclosure, and a cistern that provided water in the event of a siege. Freely accessible, it is an interesting place to combine history and hiking in this part of Almería.

In 1227, Pastor Juan de Ribas, originally from Colomera (Granada), witnessed the apparition of the Virgin on a hill in the Sierra Morena. He asked her to build a temple in her honor, and a few years later, the devotion led to the construction of a building that still stands today.

The route through Tahal is very scenic. I didn't stop here, I don't walk around with racing bike shoes and cleats to look at something.

It was bigger than almeria.

The Castle of Tahal is located at the end of the town of the same name. The state of conservation is good and it is in a state of consolidated ruin. Free access and was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest with the category of Monument

View of the town of Tahal, situated on a slope of the Sierra de los Filabres, next to a ravine, among almond and holm oak trees. From here its houses seem even whiter, with their staggered facades visible, from which the parish tower juts out.

The castle of Líjar is a 21st-century construction. As with all defensive structures, the material used is stone. It is a castle-shaped building, located in the highest part of the town. While it is true that neither the Libro de Apeos y Repartimiento nor the cataster of the Marqués de la Ensenada contain reliable data on the existence of a Castle in Líjar, clear evidence such as Castillo street and Torrecica street are more than sufficient for its conjecture. Furthermore, its exceptional location, on the edge of a cliff whose height can exceed 100 meters, with a completely perpendicular drop and dominating the entire wide valley, its elevated position on top of a hill, is in itself a key defensive element. Based on its possible existence, the idea that originated the construction of this castle was none other than to boost activity in the municipality, diversifying Líjar's economic sectors, through reconstruction, enhancing the surrounding area, and creating a tourist office and exhibition hall inside it, in addition to having a viewpoint from which the entire town, its floodplain, and a large part of the sierra can be seen.