Archez - a lovely village in the Axarquia

Not only does Archez have cultural and heritage links with Northern Ireland and Scotland, but it is the central point of looking at sustainable living.  With an old ruin at the centre of the study, we have already come up with a few ideas.  Water and electricity are a problem, especially water, in this area.  The water tables are low, and local people report water cuts in the summer lasting as long as two months.  Drilling for water is common place, but if the lakes around are empty, the water table cannot be of a level to reach Archez, a beautiful remote village in the foothills of the Sierras Almijaras.  There is no walking infrastructure as there is in neighbouring Competa and Canillas de Albaida with signage.  It is a blank canvas, ready for exploration on foot, walking and on horseback.

Today I visited Archez in the Axarquia for the first time for many years.  It was an experience driving in the mountains out to a magnificent site.  Archez is a lovely village and has links with Ireland and Scotland, as well as England, through the daughter of Isabella the Catholic, Catherine of Aragon who married King Henry VIII of England.  The Catholic Kings captured Velez-Malaga in 1487.