This enclave, which at first glance might evoke Swiss landscapes due to its architecture and occasional snowfalls, is nestled in the heart of the Sierra de Los Filabres. The attention from a publication of National Geographic's stature on such a particular corner of inland Almería is a remarkable event, bringing into focus a place that, for many, had gone unnoticed.
The report, recently published on their travel website, emphasizes the local architecture, describing it as Central European in style. The Santa Bárbara hermitage, built in 1911, is the most distinctive element, with its red spire bell tower and a design that sharply contrasts with traditional Andalusian architecture. The magazine suggests that the construction appears to have been “transported brick by brick from Central Europe,” making it an exceptional architectural piece within the provincial heritage.
“"The Santa Bárbara hermitage appears to have been “transported brick by brick from Central Europe."
For the Almanzora region, which faces challenges such as depopulation, this type of recognition goes beyond mere tourist curiosity. It represents a valuable opportunity to revitalize and enhance an architectural and cultural heritage that has been abandoned for years.
The village's origin dates back to the late 19th century, when the subsoil of the Filabres attracted major European mining companies, first for lead and then for high-quality iron starting in 1885. Belgian, British, and Dutch companies established themselves in the area, building a complete village with all necessary infrastructure for their workers, including the hermitage, worker pavilions, a hospital, commissary, school, and cinema. This settlement eventually housed around 2,000 people at its peak.
The architectural style, featuring stone load-bearing walls, exposed brick edges, steeply pitched roofs for snow drainage, interiors with white Macael marble staircases, and central heating systems, reflects the influence of its builders. However, with the decline of mining in 1968, the once-prosperous village was abandoned and deteriorated, leaving its peculiar buildings as witnesses to a glorious past.
