Authentic old Andalucian mountain village house
Village House
Location: Sierra NevadaSleeps: 7
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 1
Facilities
Balcony
Description
Staying at Casa Jasmine is like stepping back in time. Centuries old and built from solid stone, the house oozes character and charm. It is comfortable to stay in but retains the original details, right down to the antique wooden doors.
From the south facing terrace one can see the sea during clear days (winter and autumn) and even the distant Rif mountains of Africa. Eagles soar in the valley below and the occasional inquisitive goat may peer through the window. In winter the house is heated by log burning stoves and electric heaters are available for each room.
The house stays cool in summer as it is built into the side of the mountain. Skylights throughout the house ensure a light and airy feel and mountain spring water comes out of the taps. WiFi is connected here.
The popular white village of Pampaneira affords several decent restaurants and bars - so you won't have to drive anywhere to go out for dinner. Pampaneira is the lowest of the three white villages in the Poqueira Gorge. Having won ‘Spain’s Best Kept Village’ award twice, people take pride in where they live. Despite relying on tourism for their keep, nearly everyone remains very open and friendly.
Information.
Eating: The village speciality is Poor Man’s Potatoes (papas a la pobre), which is a delicious hearty dish of potatoes fried with scrambled egg, green peppers, spicy sausage and olive oil. It’s cheap and filling and is sometimes free when you order a drink. Other specialities are local chorizo (spicy sausage), cured ham (jamon serrano - an area speciality – you’ll see the legs hanging from ceilings in many bars) and various cheeses and wines (tip: try ‘costa’ – a very cheap young wine made from local grapes). Also, on hot summer evenings, order a glass of tinto de verano (summer wine) which is red wine mixed with lemonade and served ice cold – very refreshing.
Bars: The best bar in the village is El Pilon. Here you can drink the local sherry, sit next to a log fire in winter and play pool with the locals. They also do very nice snacks, including the delicious rosta con queso y jamon – a kind of circular bread with cheese and ham. There are other bars and cafes around the village as well, but El Pilon is where the younger locals hang out. Tip: don’t ask for a cerveza (beer), instead ask for a tubo – which is the local way of putting it. In winter, drink dulce i.e. sherry, if you want to blend in.
Shopping: Being the first stopping off point in the high Alpujarra it’s no surprise that Pampaneira has quite a few shops selling regional wares. The village specialises in selling rugs, which you can’t fail to notice draped over walls everywhere. Prices are much the same in the shops and you can buy them in different sizes. You can spend hours browsing the shops in the village for handicrafts, foods and other things and probably the best place to do this is La Moralea Bodega, just below the plaza. In here you can buy all the regional specialities and sample the local sherry and cheese whilst doing so – highly recommended. This place has been called the ‘Best Shop in the World’ be several different visitors.
Fiestas and fairs: There are numerous fiestas in Pampaneira and they all involve very loud fireworks. The dates are hardly ever fixed (except by month) but they take place at the following times:
January – The Three Kings
May. Santa Cruz
August. Summer fiesta
October. Artisans’ and produce fair (see picture above)
New Year’s Eve fiesta (midnight bonfire in the plaza)
Up until the 1990’s the village also hosted an annual pig slaughtering festival (la gran matanza – the big slaughter), until it was outlawed by the EU on health grounds. You can still see posters from it in some of the bars.
Fountain next to the church: People come from far and wide to drink at the this fountain as it is believed that, if you are single, you can take a drink of the water and, upon turning around, you will see the person you will then marry. Tip: look around before you drink.
Kids: Just like every other village in Andalucía there is a covered children’s playground in the village. Due to the lack of traffic, the village is safe for children to walk around. Children are welcomed in every restaurant and bar in Andalucía and you will often see them running around having fun late into the night. The Andaluz love kids and will take every opportunity to lavish them with lollipops and pats on the head.
Walks: The path outside the house is actually the GR7 which, if you follow it all the way, will take you to Istanbul. For a slightly gentler walk, follow it up to Bubion (follow the signs) – about 20 minutes. Otherwise, the hillside opposite offers great walking and you can go up the Tibetan Buddhist retreat (O Sel Ling) that is directly opposite Pampaneira. There are many other walks in the area, including the ascent to the summit of Mulhacen – just ask in the information centre for details and maps.
Availability
Seasonal rates
| Start date | End date | Weekly rate | Week night rate | Week end night | Minimum stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Oct 2011 | 06 Jan 2012 | 220 € | n/a | n/a | 2 nights |
| 15 Jan 2012 | 02 Feb 2012 | 220 € | n/a | n/a | 2 nights |
| 13 Feb 2012 | 01 Mar 2012 | 220 € | n/a | n/a | 2 nights |
| 02 Mar 2012 | 30 Aug 2012 | 320 € | n/a | n/a | 2 nights |
* prices may be subject to change at the advertisers discretion
* rates are per property
NOTE: Easter / Christmas - 90 per night.
Please enquire regarding long lets and weekend breaks.
General information
| Property type | House |
|---|---|
| Numer of units | single |
| Holiday theme | Activity, Away from it all, Beach Holiday, Family, Historic, Romantic, Sight-seeing, Summer Holiday, Weekend Away |
| Suitable for | Children, Pets, Long term rentals, Families, Couples, Groups |
Room information
| Bedrooms |
4 bedroom(s), sleeps 7 max. Bedroom 1 with double bed. |
|---|---|
| Bathrooms |
1 bathroom(s) Bathroom with bath and shower. |
| Kitchen |
Fully equipped kitchen. 4 ring stove, Freezer, Fridge, Hob, Oven, Washing machine |
| Meals |
Not included |
| Dining room |
Seats 5 * Highchair available on request. |
| Living room |
Seats 6 Downstairs TV room features Moorish style seating area. DVD, CD player, Fireplace, TV, Wood burning stove |
On-site facilities
| Onsite facilities |
* Terrace with table and seating. Balcony |
|---|---|
| Other facilities |
* Room fans Satellite/cable, Wireless internet access |
| Other notes |
You can reverse a car (with some skill) to near the front door, but ample parking is a short walk away (2 minutes). |
Local area information
| Location type |
Village |
|---|---|
| Car required? |
necessary This is a very charming old house, although it does have uneven steps and is probably not suiatable for those with mobility difficulties. |
| Local leisure activities |
* Swimming pool in hotel almost next door *Swimming river in village during summer months
Skiing, Paragliding, Horse riding, Sailing, Walking, Beach |
| Nearest points of interest |
|
Directions
Travel
Granada airport is about 1.5 hours away by car. It is quite easy to get to and from. Otherwise Malaga airport is approx. 2.5 hours away. To drive down to Andalucia from the ferry ports in the north takes a full day but can easily be accomplished.
Distances
Pampaneira is in the high Alpujarras and you're never too far from a village. Nearby Bubion can be reached on foot in only 20 minutes through some beautiful countryside, or five minutes by car. Granada city, with it's amazing architecture, restaurants and tapas bars is just over an hour away. A bus leaves every morning, if you don't want to drive.
Reviews
Very authentic
Our three weeks here in the Spring of 2011 was one of the best holidays we have ever had as a family. It was probably the perfect time to visit because of all the wildflowers coming out and it was still chilly enough to sit by a lovely fire in the evenings and drink some 'village sherry'.
We were prepared for the village to be touristy - but actually it was a real delight. Everyone was so friendly towards us and one of the neighbours even gave us a free meal in his restaurant.
We enjoyed the Alpujarras so much that we are now seriously thinking of retiring there! Thanks for a fantastic stay in a lovely old house!
Home away from home
This is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway. Tucked snugly in the Alpujarras Mountains, the house provides a breathtaking view to the Sierra Nevada range to the north and is within a three minute walk to the centre of town. Perhaps the best surprise is the charming decor: tastefully dressed bedrooms, cosy bathroom and a quaint library of English-language books that introduce you to the region - perfect for a quiet night of reading on the balcony with a glass of Costa (locally made wine). During the day, you can visit the town's grocer, craft shops and tourist centre that sells, among other things, the hilarious and captivating books written by Alpujarras resident (and original drummer and founding member of Genesis) Chris Stewart, who moved to the area to become a farmer over four decades ago. We strolled the well marked paths along the River Poqueira and found quiet resting places situated next to gorgeous hidden waterfalls.
At night, you can dine at Casa Diego, a great dining experience and well worth the money. Other recommendations include taking a hike up to the neighbouring village of Bubión for lunch at the reasonably priced Restaurant Teide. While there, check out some of the town's galleries boasting works from local artists. The village of Capileira is a bit further up the mountain and has a culture centre that also serves as a little museum. Pampaneira is a great way to experience the Alpujarras way of life - take it easy, take siesta and remember to sample the Costa for the full Pampaneira effect.
Magnifique
Dear Jason,
Now it is back to work and time to look forward to our next vist. For my family and me, our stay in Pampaneira will stay printed in our memory.
I haven't such enjoyed a journey for a long time.
We left on monday morning, thanks again for your welcome.
Lovely location
We are about to leave your place. We've spent a wonderful week, nice weather, nice area, well you know what it's like. We managed riding our bikes, using low gears. We also climbed to Mulhacen and camped on the way down, had a wood fire...
(BTW the taps in the bathroom are a bit difficult to close... our only 'complaint')
We want to thank you again for the stay which we very much enjoyed.
Spain as it should be experienced
As avid hikers, we were delighted to find this little gem tucked away in the high mountains of the Alpujarras.
This was definitely a no-TV-required destination. Whether enjoying one of the many hiking trails that are right outside the front door, wandering down to the village square to watch the world go by as we dined on tapas and wine, or sitting on the balcony and watch the sun set over the mountain range - this was definitey a memorable holiday.
The house itself is not just another holiday cottage and is filled with lovely touches that made us feel right at home. So much at home that we were inspired by the beautiful homemade wall hangings and rugs and bought an extra suitcase so we could buy our own Spanish rug to bring back to our new home.
Oh and my partner was also inspired to propose in front of the town's famous fountain, so my trip to Pampaniera not only provided me with a new rug but also a husband!
Enquire about this property
You're contacting
Jason Heppenstall
View additional contact details
Mobile: +45 22790769
Language(s) spoken:
English
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