Wednesday

Pilgrimage Virgin of the Snow Mulhacen 2018

Every summer between 4 and 5 august the people from the surrounding villages, mainly Trevélez, Busquistar and Capileira go up the Mulhacen to celebrate the pilgrimage of the Virgin of the Snow.
A mass is held on the top of the Mulhacen and many people assist with their horses.


horses on the mulhacen
Horses on the Mulhacen


The story is that a priest in the 19th century was travelling from Valor in the Alpujarras to Granada on the 4th of August. It was a nice summerday, but then all of a sudden the weather turned bad and a snowblizzard made it impossible to continue. The priest was very cold and thought that his last hour had arrived. But then all of a sudden the virgin appeared to the priest, giving him new confidence to resist and then all of a sudden the weather turned bright again.

Mulhacen 5 august 2018
Mulhacen

In honour of this miracle on the Veleta mountain a sign has been erected and on the Mulhacen the people from Trevelez bring the Virgin in procession with mules and horses.

horses on the mulhacen summer 2018
Horses coming down the hills of Mulhacen


This year we had a lot of rain and snow this spring, so we could still enjoy some snowfields on our way to Siete Lagunas.

snow on our way to siete lagunas
Snow on the east side of the Mulhacen

Siete lagunas or Seven Lagoons is located on the east side of the Mulhacen.
We discovered there this beautiful field of Stars of the Snow (Estrella de las Nieves)

stars of the snow (plantago nivalis)
Star of the snow (Plantago Nivalis)


And saw the Seven Lagoons much greener than ever in august.

seven lagoons
Seven Lagoons

Cautiously walking down the slopes with the horses