Costa Tropical

Lobres

Perfectly situated, Lobres lies just off the main Granada Road on the Costa Tropical. Both Motril and Salobrena with their beautiful beaches can be reached by car within an easy 8 miniute drive and the city of Granada is only an hour away.
Lobres is a small village with just over a thousand inhabitants who are extremely friendly and welcoming of strangers to their Pueblo (village), the local people will proudly tell you Lobres has been in existence here on the Costa Tropical for as long as Salobrena or longer!!!

Once surronded by sugar cane fields, Lobres remains a truly rural working village with many continuing to work and harvest their land with pride. The main crop being farmed locally is the famous Chirimoya (or custard apple tree), these trees are painstakingly looked after all year round, from Spring when they are all trimmed back and cross pollinated, with a very small paint brush, to the harvest in late September to October. Mules can still be seen pulling the plough and turning the soil in the Spring time, a way of life long gone in the UK.

However, do not be fooled into thinking that Lobres is behind the times, at the local “Casa Cultural” you will find a "WI-FI" zone and many youngsters sit working on their laptops in the Plaza that is close by. There is also a library and the community outdoor swimming pool is almost completed, which will certainly be well used come next summer. Just over the way from the Plaza is the Pensioners bar where a lot of domino banging and card shuffling takes place along with beer drinking and of course putting the world to rights!!! There are many things on offer in Lobres for keep fit enthusiasts too, with weekly aerobic, Tai Chi, and dancing classes, also traditional painting and lace making classes held by some very talented ladies. Coach trips are also regularly arranged with different types of outings.

All the Fiestas held in Lobres are celebrated with lots of fireworks, music and laughter, and are a good excuse for a really big family get together, but as always visitors are made welcome and included. The main Fiesta on the Lobres calendar is St.Antonio, who is the patron saint of the village, which is held in June and lasts 4 days and nights.!! It seems to be nonstop! At the start of the fiesta masses are said in the local church, where the altar screen dates back to the 14th century, following this the statue of St. Antonio, decked with beautiful flowers is brought out and carried all around the main streets of the village and everyone follows, some walking bare foot. The local brass band accompanies the parade along the way together with a man who really must be on a "death wish" for he continually lets rockets off which he holds in his hand.! Other big local celebrations are Easter and Candlaria (JAN/FEB) where everyone walks around Lobres carrying a candle. At New Year locals gather in the plaza to see in the New Year with a glass of Cava and the traditional 12 grapes, more fireworks (of course) before going off to celebrate with family and friends. Again all are welcome.
Everything is here in the village of Lobres including a tiny bank, 2 small supermarkets, a small shop selling medicines that also gets your prescription cashed for you if you can´t get out and about, a medical centre, and a baker who brings bread direct to your door by 9:30am daily. Vans pass by nearly all day selling everything from fresh fish to fruit and veg and frozen foods, their arrival is signalled by the loud "parping" of the van horn!! There is even someone who will sharpen your knives for you as well!
Lobres village is well served by a local bus service going into Salobrena or Motril several times a day. All this in such a beautiful setting with lovely walks in the countryside, where you can gaze at the spectacular back drop of the mountains and the bluest of skies, what more could one want?

Written by Christine Nalden