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Nature centre and youth hostel reopen to the public at Las Fuentes del Marques in Caravaca
The hub of activity in the Caravaca de la Cruz beauty spot has been repaired, restored and enlarged over the last few months
Work has now been completed to refurbish the nature centre (Centro de la Naturaleza) within the park and beauty spot of Las Fuentes del Marqués in Caravaca de la Cruz and the building is now open to the public again.
Much of the work carried out consisted of repairs to the building itself, which was affected by the damp which is part of life among the springs and streams of the park, and both the displays and the youth hostel have been updated considerably, with new lighting and display panels now installed.
On top of this, various parts of the building are now usable again after being out of operation for years, and it is envisaged that these will be used to reinforce the role of the centre in the environmental education activities provided for local schoolchildren. It should be remembered that the building housing the nature centre, the Torreón de los Templarios, is far from new, having been built as long ago as the 16th century!
As Councillor José Santiago Villa commented during a visit to the fully refurbished building, the work performed has not only restored the educational and aesthetic value of the nature centre, it has also made it more accessible, more didactic and generally more attractive.
Meanwhile, the youth hostel can now sleep 66 guests rather than the previous maximum of 48, and accessibility here has also been improved – a new door with a ramp is now featured and adapted toilet facilities are available. All this has been achieved alongside the modernisation of doors, windows, plumbing and electrical fittings.
For more local news, events and visiting information contact the local tourist office (see below) or go to the home page of Caravaca Today.
Address
Calle De Las Monjas, 19, 30400 CARAVACA DE LA CRUZTel: 968 702424 / 968 701003
Oficina de Turismo de Caravaca de la Cruz
More information about the places of interest which can be visited in the municipality of Caravaca de la Cruz, along with what's on and local news can be found in the Caravaca Today.
Caravaca de la Cruz, in the north-west of the Region of Murcia, is one of only 5 Holy Cities in the Roman Catholic world, a centre of pilgrimage, along with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liebana, and is home to the Cross of Caravaca, the Vera Cruz.
The status of Holy City was bestowed by Pope John Paul II in 1998, granting the City a Permanent Jubilee year every 7 years for perpetuity, the first one held in 2003 and the next in 2024.
The strategic and natural advantages of Caravaca de la Cruz have attracted the attention of settlers for more than 800,000 years, the Cueva Negra yielding remains of Homo Heidelbergensis, forbears of the Neanderthals and the municipality also houses important archaeological remains from the Argaric, Iberian and Roman cultures. many of these can be seen in the Municipal Archaeological Museum.
As a border town caught between the Catholic forces of Castille and the last remaining Moorish stronghold in Spain, Granada, Caravaca had a turbulent medieval history, but it was during this period that the legend of the Cross of Caravaca was born, bringing the religious orders which shaped the structure of Caravaca today, with its impressive hilltop castle and eclectic collection of churches and monasteries, religious tourism today being a backbone of the town´s economy.
Caravaca de la Cruz is a municipality with important natural resources, including extensive forests, part of which have protected status due to their wealth of flora and fauna, and due to the abundant water supplies is also a major area for canned fruit production, apricots in particular being an important crop.
Caravaca is renown for its important May Fiestas, held in honour of the Vera Cruz, which also incorporate the Moors and Christians celebrations and the Running of the Wine Horses.
Caravaca de la Cruz is also the home of Europe´s largest collection of ethnic instruments at Barranda, the Museo de Música Étnica Barranda and is the location of the Barranda festival de Cuadrillas, which celebrates the Region's ethnic music traditions.
The municipality is home to around 26,000 inhabitants and shares boundaries with Moratalla, Cehegín, Lorca, Puebla de Don Fadrique in the province of Granada and Vélez-Blanco in the province of Almería.
Opening times:
Weekdays: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Saturdays: 10.30 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Sundays and public holidays: 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Caravaca de la Cruz Tourist Office
