What you Shouldn't miss Bullas

The Bullas Wine Museum came into being as a response to the area's wine-growing tradition. It is designed to be a centre for services and activities related to the promotion of tourism and culture in Bullas and its wine-producing area. The exhibition presents all the processes involved in wine making in an educational way, clearly differentiating between traditional and present-day methods.

It is located in a former 19th Century bodega, the primitive facilities of which still remain, and which originally used to belong to one of the richest and most influential families in the district: the Melgares de Aguilar. Its more than 1400 square metres offer visitors ample opportunity to spend time enjoying the wine-related cultural milieu. It also features a shop selling wine-related products, various wine-tasting rooms, temporary exhibitions, courses and seminars. Visits: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00. Sundays and public holidays from 10:30 to 14:00.

Address: Avda. de Murcia, nº 75. 30180 Bullas.
Tel: +34 968 657 211
museodelvino@bullas.es
www.museodelvino.bullas.es

On Calle Rosario, behind the Nuestra Señora del Rosario Parish Church, you will find an old nobleman's mansion that is now home to the Don Pepe Marsilla House and Museum, which recreates the way of life in Bullas in the late 19th Century. Inside, both the modernist style décor of the residential part of the property and the various rooms that made up the working area, are in a perfect state of conservation.

In the wine cellar, the area used for the production of wine for sale and that set aside for storing the finest vintages for personal consumption can be seen. In total, there are 57 vats with a capacity for over 140,000 litres of wine.
Visits: By appointment.

Address: C/ Rosario, nº1. 30180 Bullas.
Tel: +34 968 657 211
casamuseodonpepe@bullas.es
www.casamuseodonpepe.bullas.es

In the town centre of Bullas alone, there are more than 200 fully- or partly-conserved traditional bodegas, the majority of which were built between the 18th and 19th Centuries. Evidence of this can be found right in the heart of the town, in the Plaza de España, with the Monumento al Viticultor or Monument to the Wine Grower, an imposing bronze sculpture by Rafael Pi Belda, which represents the noble art of grape-treading and serves as homage to all those who have contributed to forging the culture of wine in this area. This passion for everything wine-related is transmitted, in part, thanks to the Wine Museum, which is located in one of the old Kingdom of Murcia's largest and most productive wineries, and is one of the most important visitor attractions in this remarkable town. The Plaza de España is the perfect place to start your journey and to discover some of the most interesting and picturesque attractions the town has in store. Just behind the Grape-Treader is the easily recognisable Casa de los Melgares with its blue, art nouveau style façade. The house was built in 1925 by the Melgares, one of the richest and most powerful families in Bullas. Years later, the building was acquired by the Town Council, who converted it into a Cultural Centre, which currently houses the Public Library and Historical Archive amongst other services.

Another of the architectural treasures in the centre of Bullas is, without a doubt, the Nuestra Señora del Rosario Parish Church, a beautiful example of 18th Century Murcian Baroque architecture. Inside, visitors can delight in images such as St. John the Evangelist, from the Salzillo school. Behind the church, in Calle Rosario, there is another very popular nobleman's mansion that is very dear to the people of Bullas, the Don Pepe Marsilla House & Museum. Built in 1900, today it is home to an interesting ethnographic collection that will take you back to the way of life at the end of the 19th Century, using state-of-the-art scenographic techniques.

Very close by is the Plaza Vieja, the town's historical social hub, and the Plaza del Castillo, where the town's mediaeval fortress, of which there are still some remains, used to be located. Nowadays, on the first Sunday in each month, the two Plazas are the setting for the famous 'El Zacatín' street market, the Region of Murcia's leading craft market, where visitors are sure to find exquisite souvenirs. From the Plaza de España, the Camino Real (Royal Road), along which there are several noble mansions, will take you to the Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower), which was built at the beginning of the 20th Century to regulate irrigation shifts amongst the farmers. Together, the tower of the Parish Church and the Clock Tower give Bullas its distinctive skyline.

But Bullas is much more than just good wine and offers a wide variety of leisure options. From the old town to the surrounding valleys, visitors can walk to their heart's content, enjoying the exuberant countryside that naturally embellishes these mythical surroundings.

Highlights include the Paraje de La Rafa, a countryside area that was once a silk-farming station. As well as being the point of origin for several short-distance footpaths, it is also the starting point for the El Romero ecotourism trail, which forms part of the Region of Murcia's network of walking routes. La Rafa offers numerous services for all types of visitor: a camp site, restaurants, a swimming pool, sports facilities... Worthy of special mention are the bioclimatic apartments at the Centre for Agroecology and the Environment (CEAMA) which are located here and are, themselves, a model of sustainable architecture. Another example of the area's huge natural wealth can be found at the Paraje del Carrascalejo, a beautiful wood that is home to the Rambla de la Regidora stream and through which the El Romero ecotourism trail also passes before joining up with the North-West Green Route. In addition to the evergreen oaks, there is a dense copse of willow and poplar trees growing along the banks of the stream, as well as a tangle of brambles, wild roses, hawthorn, rushes and oleander. Hidden in the midst of the thicket is the Cristo del Carrascalejo (Christ of El Carrascalejo). Many are the miracles and legends attributed to this figure of marble-like appearance, which is the reason why it is common for visitors to find flowers and candles at his feet.

Continuing along the course of the River Mula, there is more vibrant scenery to be enjoyed, linked to the wealth of water, with places of great environmental value. The area around the river offers endless opportunities for outdoor pursuits in natural surroundings. Spots such as the Salto del Usero or the Pasico Ucenda are sure to tempt visitors to take a cool dip in their crystal-clear waters. All along the river, there are numerous vestiges of old flour mills, with highlights including the Molino de Arriba and the Molino de Abajo, the latter of which has been converted into a guesthouse and restaurant.

One of the prettiest times of year in Bullas, and a real treat for visitors, is when the almond trees are in bloom. An unprecedented display that covers the surroundings in hues of white and pink, offering an unrivalled attraction for nature lovers. Very close by, further riches can found on El Castellar, a hill noted for its archaeological remains and environmental value.

Picking up the area's spirit once again and getting back to its wine-growing origins, the scenic natural interest of the Aceniche Valley is also worthy of mention, as is the Paraje de la Venta del Pino, where vines grow capriciously to later be reincarnated, following a painstaking production process, as the most select of red wines. Here, travellers will find more abrupt terrain, with uplands such as La Lavia and Los Cuchillos forming an exceptionally attractive landscape, where there are several different trekking routes and wineries to visit on the Bullas Wine Route, which has been accredited by the National Department of Tourism (Turespaña) as a 'Wine Route of Spain'.