Cave house with 5 en suite bedrooms and an indoor heated swimming pool - Cúllar (Granada)  

This is a magnificent example of how a cave house can be developed and the result is nothing short of spectacular.

With four independent entrances, the 5 bedrooms and 5 en suite bathrooms can be utilised as either a very large family home, 3 self-contained apartments or as a bed & breakfast where the largest of the reception rooms could be the central hub and lounge dining room.

With a hundred years of history, the size and condition of the property has been extended and improved throughout the decades, and predominantly by the current owners. Now boasting 21 rooms of which most have windows or natural light and high ceilings, 8 toilets, 7 showers and facility for three log burning stoves (one of which is installed in the main reception room), and not forgetting the 8x4m salt water swimming pool; as a complete package this is most definitely not your average cave house.

As previously mentioned, there are four independent accesses to the house and if the property was to be used commercially you would probably enter via a door off the long covered arched porch that is undoubtedly a cool relaxing area in the hotter summer months, which would bring you in to an entrance hall with guest w.c. and then in to the largest of the reception rooms with high arched ceiling and feature fireplace and log burning stove.

Leading off this room to the left there is a passage way which passes one of the smaller rooms of the property that has most recently been used as an office. Being an internal room (having no windows) it would also have potential to make a good therapy / treatment room.

At the end of the passage is one of the three self-contained units comprising open plan lounge diner and kitchen; bedroom with feature skylight; bathroom with shower, basin and toilet; and a separate utility room.
There are shuttered double doors giving access to the heated indoor swimming pool area.

The salt water pool has wide steps across half of the width and handrail at the shallow end. The depth is graded from 1.2m to 1.5m and has an easy to operate roll out cover for assisting in retaining the heat. On the more technical side of things there is provision of solar heating panels, heat pump solar ventilation panel. Completely tiled around and with seating area and two separate bath rooms with showers, basins and toilets the installation has been very well prepared and presented.

Back in the property, the second of the self-contained units can be in the form of a one or two bedroom configuration due to the lockable connecting doors. Entering through the wooden front door in to a larger reception hall with arched ceiling and feature wooden beams you have access to the main reception room to the left; a bedroom with en suite bathroom with bath, shower cubicle, toilet and basin to the right and straight ahead another large kitchen.

Off the kitchen there is a generous sized living room with great views and pre installation for a wood burner. Another bedroom and bathroom with shower, toilet and basin complete this part of the property.

The third part of the living accommodation is a one bedroom dwelling with potential for adding a kitchenette which would make an open plan lounge diner kitchen also with pre installation for a log burner. Alongside the bedroom is the fifth bathroom with shower, toilet and basin.

The final bedroom is the only internal one and has an en suite bathroom with twin basins, toilet and the option to install either another bath or large walk in shower. The bedroom also has an attached large walk in storage room.

With the ability to lock the connecting doors it would be possible to have a configuration of three self-contained one bedroom apartments and two double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms.

To the exterior of the cave, due to its elevated location, the 170m² terrace that runs along one side of the property benefits amazing mountain views and is an ideal space for sun bathing and even to put a Jacuzzi (or maybe two, one for each of the units accessed from this terrace) or above ground plunge pool.

Terracing continues around more of the property until it reaches the hill in which the cave house has been built. The ground then continues up to the top of the hill and also below where there is a parking area below the cave terrace and then down to another level area which has an almacen (storeroom) which could be utilised as a garage and also a smaller storeroom and car port. Water and electric are installed at this level.

The cave house has mains electric and water and a pozo (cesspit) at the bottom of the plot for black water.

The cave is located on the southern edge of the village of El Margen and 7km from the busier market town of Cúllar, with a weekly local market on Mondays, several small supermarkets, 3 banks, medical centre and two dental practices. There is a bus service passing through the village of El Margen. In addition, ALSA long distance buses stop regularly in Cúllar, en route between Barcelona, Granada, Seville and Cadiz.

El Margen is a small farming hamlet where locals grow olive and almond trees. The village has a church and a village hall, and there is a bar/restaurant on the main road. Lively Fiestas take place every February and August in the village. Herds of sheep and goats, together with their clanging neck bells, graze in the area.

El Margen is between Cúllar and Galera, with easy access to other pretty Spanish Andalucian villages. Galera is famous for all its Cave homes, and has the Tutugi burial sites dating back to the 6th and 5th centuries BC and a very interesting small museum.

About 25 minutes away by motorway from Cúllar, is the larger town of Baza, where there is a good hospital with Accident and Emergency facilities. There are 3 main supermarkets in Baza, as well as sports facilities, a large range of shops, restaurants and bars. Baza itself has a long history dating back to Roman times, as well as a restored Roman bath site, and a famous annual "Cascamorras" Fiesta.

At the property, a local Fishman calls once a week, and deliveries of fresh bread daily, and other provisions are possible.

The location of this property is excellent for those wanting to walk and explore the natural countryside and its flora and wildlife. It backs on to "the Badlands" which is open countryside covered in esparto grass (used years ago for the local basket making industry). It is also an ideal location to simply just sit back and relax.

Without doubt the property could generate an income for anyone looking to simply provide rental accommodation or as a more dedicated and specialised therapy retreat.