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Municipality of Árchez (Andalusia, Spain)

Málaga Province

image by Blas Delgado, 18 Oct 2005

Introduction

See also:

Málaga Province (Andalusia, Spain)
Andalusia (Spain)
Spain

Introduction

Basic data:

Size: 5 Km²
Population: 400
Residents known as: Archeros
Monuments: Minaret tower of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación.
Geographic location: In the valley of the river Sayalonga, at the foothills of the Tejeda and Almijara, 4 kilometres from Corumbela and 21 from Vélez-Málaga
Tourist information: Town Hall, C/Real, 25. 29753.
Phone: 952 553 159 Fax: 952 553 159

Árchez is a small municipality of five square kilometres, and to get there, one follows the Mudéjar Route towards Salares. Another way to reach the town is to take the road through Arenas, by Daimalos (in the municipality of Arenas) and Corumbela (municipality of Sayalonga). Once past Sayalonga, one travels down a slight incline to Árchez, about four kilometres on. Arenas is 11 kilometres from Árchez.

The municipality forms a triangle from south to north, in the valley of the river Turvilla, and is surrounded by the peaks of Tetuán (528 metres) and Zorra (542 metres). There is an abundance of water in the region almost all year round. The Sierra Tejeda riverbeds are fed by the river Árchez, which takes the name Algarrobo further on. Numerous tributaries join it along the way, such as the Cortijuelo and the Acequia de Corumbela, increasing its volume in the lower reaches. This makes for an excellent tourist attraction, with many people visiting the area as a result. Walking along the river banks one can see three ancient and abandoned flour mills, known as the mills of Doña Fidela, Reusto and Castrán. The landscape in the area is mostly scrubland, with low trees here and there. There is plenty of wildlife here too, including rabbits, hares, partridges and other birds.

Árchez is known as the Joya Merinita (Merinite Jewel) of the 12th century. The earliest settlers here were the Moriscos, and the town probably grew up from the original farmhouse. This explains the narrow streets and the close distribution of the houses. The townąs centre is small and fairly flat. One sees, walking through the town, that the design of the houses differs from street to street, some with simple roofs and others with terraces, which are of more recent construction. Many of them have their own wells, taking water from the numerous underground streams that flow through the area.

Blas Delgado, Oct 18 2005