The Eulalio Mill (Winkler)

On the Boabdil Route, you can discover the most characteristic sites and landmarks of Árchez. We’ll start with the main attraction, the 13th-century Alminar Tower where we’ll climb the bell tower to see the famous “Lagartija del Amor”.
Next, we’ll visit the remains of the ancient Moorish wall to learn about the Christian conquest and the Alpujarra rebellion, and thus discover how Árchez passed from Moorish to Christian hands. Highlights of this route include discovering the coat of arms of Árchez, learning about the river that runs alongside it (the River Turvilla), visiting the exterior of the Eulalio Mill and finding out about the flour-making process, from the cultivation of wheat right through to its processing.

The tour ends with a visit to the 15th-century Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation, where the oak truss of the dome is particularly noteworthy.

It dates back to the 15th century. It is a Mudejar-style building with a single, simple nave and three chancels behind the chancel. The entrance door is limited to a semicircular arch opening in a rectangle in the form of an alfiz. On the side walls there are several niches with various images. It was built on the site of a former mosque of which only the minaret remains, an Almohad architectural jewel from the 14th century.

Today it serves as a bell tower attached to the church.

Árchez, known as the 12th century Merinite Jewel, has a Moorish origin that is reflected in its narrow streets and compact houses. The town centre is small and of moderate relief. The architecture combines traditional houses with gabled roofs or more recent terraces, many with their own wells. In addition, some houses inspired by the style of Gaudí add a unique and picturesque touch to the village.

The minaret of Árchez, a 14th-century Almohad architectural jewel, is today the bell tower of the church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación. With a height of 15 metres, its red brick tower is decorated with plant and abstract motifs. Declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1979, it is still in good condition. Local legend has it that a lizard was embedded in a bell when it was cast in 1876. It is believed that touching or kissing its relief helps to find a mate.