The Local Area: Bedar

Bedar

Bedar is a small country town and municipality in the province of Almeria, Andalusia. In the year 2014 there were 986 inhabitants. The surface area is 46 km² and has a population density of 21,43 inhabitants per square kilometre. The geographical coordinates are 37º 11 'N, 1 58' W at an altitude of 404 metres and 88 kilometres from the provincial capital, Almería. The post code is 04288.
Location
To the North of the municipality is Antas, West is Lubrin, East is Los Gallardos and South is Sorbas. The village is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra de los Filabres and is well situated for the motorway and all major routes to the local coastal villages of Mojacar and Garrucha.
The main villages in the municipality are:- Serena, Los Pinos, El Campico, Los Matreros, El Abarico, El Pinar and Los Giles.
History
The village of Bedar is built in typically moorish fashion, designed to keep invaders from riding directly into the centre, giving residents a chance to initiate defence or to retreat. The winding narrow streets rise in terrace like procession to the summit, with the oldest buildings intertwining each other. The Moors farmed the surrounding hills in the 8th and 9th Century, introducing their favoured mountain terraces which can still be seen to this day. They also engineered watering systems, using the natural underground water sources, and the wells and fountains are still used to this day.
In the 15th and 16th centuries mining became the mainstay of the population when iron ore and lead were found in the area. By the 19th century business was booming bringing many people to the area. An aerial cable was established between Serena and the port of Garrucha in 1888, the longest in Spain and the second longest in Europe, followed immediately by the construction of the railway, also culminating in Garrucha port from where the ore was shipped out. The Society of the Miners Union in Bedar was formed in 1916.
The First World War and the mining crisis of the 1920s put a halt to mining activity but in 1952 the mines re-opened and were exploited until the 1970s when mining ceased completely. With each decline whole settlements fell into ruin only to be reestablished. Fortunately, as the mining stopped the area was discovered by tourists, some of whom settled and so a new era of building and entertaining was born.
The romantic aura, and Bedar's individuality, has attracted many poets, writers and musicians over the years where they enjoy peace and tranquility to work in their given field of creativity. To this day the villagers enjoy evenings of festivity and music. There are several restaurant terraces where one can eat and drink while enjoying magnificent far-reaching views to the sea and listening to live music late into night. There are many local hiking routes that explore the agricultural and mining history of this area that are well worth visiting, but not for the faint hearted.
Economy
Agriculture is still a basic mainstay for local rural residents but tourism changed the dynamics of the villages and to this day they have poured their resources into providing for the new tourist industry,  constructing hostelries and facilities for the visitors and permanent accommodation for those intrepid adventurers who decided to stay.

Properties for sale in Bedar

Apartment in Bédar, Almería
10
Ref: ND3
174,300€
  • 2
  • 1
Land in Bedar, Almería
13
Ref: LANTHORN
119,000€
  • 0
  • 0
  • 18,241m²
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