Güéjar Sierra

Güéjar Sierra
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Location o Güéjar Sierra
Coordinates: 37°9′N 3°26′W
Kintra	Spain
Autonomous commonty	Andalusie
Province	Granada
Comarca	Vega de Granada
Area
• Total	239 km2 (92 sq mi)
Elevation	1000 m (3,000 ft)
Population  (2010)
• Total	2,988
• Density	12.0/km2 (31/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

Güéjar Sierra is a veelage an municipality locatit in the province o Granada, Spain. Accordin tae the INE, it haed a population o 2,988 at the stairt o 2010. The veelage is situatit in the north-wastren pairt o the Sierra Nevada muntain range, at a altitude o 1,088 metres. The municipality borders Pinos Genil, Dúdar, Quéntar, La Peza, Lugros, Jérez del Marquesado, Trevélez, Capileira an Monachil. Its boondar wi Trevélez an Capileira runs alang the heichest ridge o the Sierra Nevada, an ower Mulhacén, makkin these the three heichest municipalities in peninsular Spain. The Genil an Maitena rivers rise in Güéjar.

History

The castle o El Castillejo, the ruins o which can still be seen juist abuin the veelage, wis built bi the Romans, but it wis the Moors who settled the veelage efter their conquest o Spain in 711, givin it the name o Qaryat Walyar. It remained in Moorish haunds till 25 November 1491, when it wis taken bi Christian forces durin the feenal phase o the Reconquista. In Dizember 1499 the fowk o Güéjar teuk pairt in a rebellion which haed in pairt been provokit bi forcit conversions, but they wur defeatit in Januar 1500. As a result, 2,500 veelagers who haed previously been baptisit as Christians wur taken tae Granada an sauld as slaves. 1568 saw the stairt o the Morisco Revolt, led bi Aben Humeya, which lastit till 1571, awtho in Güéjar it wis put doun in 1569.

Güéjar Sierra haes a lang history as a popular tourist destination. As lang ago as the early 1920s the Duke o San Pedro Galatino, awner o the famous Alhambra Palace Hotel in Granada, decidit tae build a luxurious muntain lodge in the untouched kintraside abuin Güéjar. The hotel, which affered guests aw o the comforts o the time, such as electricity, central heatin an hot watter, wis inauguratit on 20 Mairch 1925. The Duke haed lang dreamit o constructin a tramline frae Granada tae juist abuin Güéjar an aw, frae whaur it wad anerly be a short carriage ride tae the hotel. Bi financin amaist a third o the cost hissel, he wis eventually able tae get the first section completit in 1925, an extensions wur addit in 1928 an 1944. The project wis a incredible feat o ingineerin, wi 14 tunnels an 21 brigs, but it wis niver a financial success, an in 1973 it wis feenally closed doun. The hotel wis loss-makkin an aw, an wis donatit bi the Duke tae the Diocese o Granada in 1936. Shortly efterwairds the Spainyie Ceevil War breuk oot, an as the front line ran vera close tae the hotel, it wis uised as barracks, an wis badly damagit as a result. In 1950 it became a seminar.

Güéjar Sierra is a main gatewey tae the northren faces o Mulhacén, Alcazaba an Veleta, an is the stairtin point for the Vereda de la Estrella an aw, ane o the maist famous hikes in the Sierra Nevada. As a result, tourism remains ane o the mainstays o the local economy.