Visit Trevélez – Spanish ham, mountain trails and timeless charm

Located on the southern part of the Sierra Nevada National Park, Trevélez is a picturesque village in the Alpujarras region in Andalusia, southern Spain. The town is renowned for its stunning landscapes, charming white washed houses, great hiking trails and its famous cured ham.

Trevélez sits at an altitude of 1.476 metres (4.840 feet) above sea level comfortably nestled in the confluence of the Trevélez and the smaller Chico river. It is located south west at the foot of the Mulhacén, which is the highest mountain peak in the Iberian Peninsula.

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The village of Trevélez

As with many mountain villages, the town of Trevélez is built on a steep slope with the altitude difference between the highest part and the lowest being nearly 200 metres (or 650 feet). It’s a beautiful and charming village center, reflecting a traditional Andalusian mountain town, including white washed houses adorned with colourful flower pots and narrow winding cobblestone roads.

The quaint village is divided into 3 parts; Barrio Bajo, Barrio Medio and Barrio Alto or in other words, the lower, middle and upper parts of the village. These parts are connected by very steep, narrow roads with gorgeous architecture and cute small squares.

Dating back to pre Roman times, it was not until the Arabs arrived on the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century that Trevélez was founded as it’s known today with advanced agricultural techniques like the terrace system and irrigation. After the Reconquista, Trevélez was largely populated by the Moriscos which are Muslims who were forced to convert to Christianity.

Due to its mountainous location, Trevélez remained isolated in the past centuries helping to preserve its traditional way of life and customs.

On a side note, it is often mentioned that Trevélez is the highest village in mainland Spain. It definitely is one of the highest villages but not the highest in Spain. The top of the village might be higher but not the average altitude of Trevélez.

Jamón de Trevélez

The Jamón Serrano de Trevélez or the Ham of Trevélez is famous for its exceptional quality, traditional curing process and distinct flavor. Due to the location on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, the village receives mostly dry, cold winds that blow nearly all year round. This makes the atmosphere and air exceptionally clean and clear.

It was on October 12, 1862 that Queen Isabel II gave permission to the town of Trevélez to stamp the Royal Seals on the hams from the region. But even though that marked the date of the first certificates of authenticity, hams had been cured for centuries before in the region, with knowledge being passed down from generation to generation.

The hams are first rubbed in sea salt, left to rest and then hung to dry in the ideal climate conditions of the area, which is cool dry mountain air and low humidity. Every year thousands of hams are cured in the secadores or drying facilities and left to dry for a minimum of 14 months and sometimes even longer. This long curing time is to release the best flavors and aromas.

What to do in Trevélez

Most people visit Trevélez either for the ham and gastronomy or for the beautiful hikes in the area. However, there are quite some other things to do in Trevélez when visiting.

Discover the 3 neighbourhoods

When visiting Trevélez, make sure to discover all 3 neighbourhoods. But be warned though that the climb up is steep, but is so worthwhile.

All 3 areas have restaurants, bars and cafés, while the lower area has more facilities for its visitors. While walking through the village center, you’ll see various attractions like the parish church of San Antonio and San Benito and lovely squares.

Discover the fountains

Trevélez is home to many fountains, each serving different purposes and decorated in a different theme. You have the Chestnut, Hermitage, Colon, Church Square and many more fountains. They served many different purposes over the centuries like drinking water but also for washing clothes and public gathering areas.

Follow the animal route

Scattered in all 3 areas are various animal statues of local wildlife. The main attraction is the 3 pigs, 1 in each area and each in its own type of house (straw, brick and wooden). Finding all the animals is a great way to discover the upper, middle and lower part of town.

Walk to the Mirador Era El Fuerte

A steep climb but so worthwhile for the stunning views of the town and the surrounding area, Mirador Era El Fuerte is located in the upper part of town at nearly 1.700 metres (5.570 feet) in altitude.

Visit the JAmones Vallejo museum

This museum is dedicated to the Trevélez ham giving you an insight in to the history and production of dry cured Serrano ham. You will also have a chance to visit the oldest ham drying room in the area. Tickets can be obtained on their website and here you can choose the type of tour you want to do, with or without ham tasting.

If you are interested in visiting this museum coming from Granada, consider joining this full day tour departing from Granada.

Buy local ham

There is no shortage of shops selling the most delicious local ham and there is no better place than buying where it’s locally produced. So when in town stock up on ham for the road or to take home. Just bear in mind that taking meat home to any other EU country won’t be a problem, but you might want to check the rules about taking meat products to countries outside of the EU.

Taste the local gastronomy

Jamón Serrano or Serrano Ham is the most famous export product of Trevélez, but there are other delicious local products that are well worth trying. Be sure to try at least some dishes of the Alpujarra cuisine like trout with local ham, garlic soup, migas, chestnut stew and the Plato Alpujarreño containing potatoes, onion, peppers, black pudding, local sausage, eggs and ham.

Attend the fiestas and celebrations

Trevélez is home to a long tradition of events, celebrations and local fiestas throughout the year. When planning your visit to Trevélez, it’s worthwhile checking if one of their events will take place. It’s nice to be part of it, just remember that most shops and restaurants will be closed during those days and the town will be more crowded. Here are some of the main events:

• Fiesta de San Antonio: Conmemoration of the Moors and Christians. Takes place the weekend closest to June 13.
• San Benito: Patron of Trevélez. Takes place Saturday closest to July 11.
• Feria del Ganado: Livestock Fair, takes place 3rd weekend of October
• Feria del Jamón: To celebrate their traditional products. Takes place mid November.

Go hiking

There is also no shortage of hiking routes departing from or passing through Trevélez, making it a paradise for hikers. Routes vary from easy to high altitude trails like the Mulhacén Summit hike which is a round trip of nearly 24 km and to an altitude of 3482 metres (or 11.420 feet).

Due to the rainfall when we were there we decided on an easier route and followed the Trevélez river. It’s a gorgeous walk taking you on a reasonably flat trail through the beautiful scenery of the Alpujarra mountains.

Where to stay in Trevelez

It’s worthwhile staying in Trevelez for a couple of days, especially if you love walking or hiking. Depending on the time of year, you will want to book ahead of time. This is especially true for any time during the local celebrations and during the summer months.

Here are some of the places in town worth considering:

• Bungalow Camping Trevélez: Located 1 km from the town center and with the most stunning views of Trevélez. It has a pool, a small restaurant and a nice bar run by the most friendly owner. They offer both camping and self catering bungalows. Book now!
• La Fragua I: A rustic family run hotel in the upper part of town. It has a restaurant with some of the most stunning views. Book now!
• La Fragua II: Close to La Fragua I, this hotel comes with a beautiful swimming pool. A highly rated traditional hotel. Book now!

There are many more great places to stay in Trevélez. Check this link to discover the best deal for your visit.

Best time to visit

When it comes to weather, the best time to visit Trevélez is from late spring to early fall, or from June to September. Chances of good weather are higher during the summer months but the town and area will also be more crowded and accommodation will fill up quick.

We visited mid October for 3 days and as it was mid autumn it was quite cold. We did expect that, however, our days were intertwined with sun but also some heavy rainfall. Still, it was well worth visiting during that time as it was less crowded with tourists and we were there during the Feria del Ganado, taking place every year in the 3rd weekend of October.

Trevelez is a village that loves their fiestas and celebrations. It’s worth visiting during these fiestas but again, keep in mind that you will not be the only one visiting during those times.

How to get there

• By car: Most people arrive in Trevélez by car, either with their own or a rental. The town can be reached via the A-4132, a small winding road which makes a curve through the town. So either when arriving east via Granada or west from Almería, you will be taking the A-4132. From Granada, we recommend taking the scenic route and turning off on the A-348 towards Lanjáron. You’ll pass some pretty villages along the way also worth a stop.
• By bus: From Granada there a few daily busses towards Trevélez. Check here for the timetable.
• With a tour: From Granada, you can join a tour to Trevélez including a visit to the ham factory. It’s a full day trip that will show you not only Trevélez, but also the amazing scenery of the Alpujarra region. If you are interested in visiting other villages in the Alpujarra, don’t miss out joining this Mountain Villages full day tour, leaving from Granada.