El Contador between the Parish Church and the Esparto Museum

El Contador can be explored through two particularly tangible themes: the parish church of San Antonio de Padua and the Museo del Esparto. They lead to different sides of the town—its religious history and rural life and work in the countryside. The route through the Sierra de María offers another perspective; there is also an October 2023 edition of the Ruta del Estraperlo, featuring a section from Venta Quemada to El Contador. This gives you three possible travel focuses: church and festival traditions, the themes of the Esparto Museum, or the landscape along the routes.

Parish Church and Festival Traditions

The parish church of San Antonio de Padua in El Contador was built in 1900 on the site of an older hermitage dating from the early 18th century. This brings together the church’s construction date and its earlier history. If you are interested in the town’s history, you can use these two dates as a starting point without conflating them.

Every year, El Contador holds a festival in honour of its patron saint, San Antonio. Another seasonal church tradition is the Misas de Gozo: during the winter months, a few days before Christmas, you can experience them at the church of San Antonio de Padua. A small musical cuadrilla performs various parts of the Eucharist. If you are planning to travel specifically for these Misas, check the current schedule locally.

The Museo del Esparto

The Museo del Esparto de El Contador houses around 65 to 70 objects associated with everyday life and work in the countryside. Its themes include the history of production, rural societies, Chirivel and its surroundings, as well as harvesting, honey, esparto grass and weaving techniques. The history of production and rural societies offer a broader perspective; harvesting, honey and weaving techniques identify specific topics. Chirivel and its surroundings provide an additional regional focus.

This variety gives you several points of interest, depending on whether you are more interested in rural societies, regional connections, or specific topics such as esparto grass and weaving techniques. The museum also has an inner courtyard used for demonstrations. It is a distinct part of the building, separate from the collection’s themed areas.

Landscape and Routes

The Vélez-Blanco–El Contador leg passes through the Puerto de Chirivel and the Sierra de María before reaching El Contador. If you are planning a specific hike, check the route and trail markings in advance.

In October 2023, the III Ruta del Estraperlo – II Ruta AlVelAl included a 10-kilometre section from Venta Quemada to El Contador. This section crossed the landscape transition from the Granada Geopark to the Comarca Los Vélez. The final section ran on a Sunday from El Contador towards Los Álamos. Details of this edition relate to the event at that time; they do not describe a current repeat of the route.

Discover more destinations: Purchena, Caserío Santopétar, Llano de Los Olleres, Mojácar, Los Escullos, Lubrín, Los Gallardos, Canjáyar.

For the broader travel overview: Almeria.