Province
and Villages - Malaga - Itinerary - Ronda to Castellar de la
Frontera
Ronda to Castellar Malaga Itinerary
A little used road - the C341 - is the link between Ronda and Gaucin.
It crosses the north west spurs of the Ronda Sierra and passes through
olive groves, corn fields, almond trees and vineyards.
Benadalid lies on the left with its shining whitewashed streets
of undeniable Muslim origin. Benadalid is an eloquent example of
the type of mountain village the traveller is getting to know. The
old castle with four large razed towers is the site of a small cemetery
today, which makes for a unique picture.
Algatocin (29km from Ronda) also lies on a slope. The church of
Virgen del Rosario (16C/18C) and the village in general deserve
a short walk. The view over the neighbouring valley includes lovely
scenery.
Gaucin (8km) at the foot of Hacho Sierra is one of the most attractive
villages in the region. The steep slopes and winding streets are
an invitation for all lovers of popular architecture. At the top
there are the remains of the Castle of El Aguila, which was built
in Muslim times. Next to it stands the Hermitage of El Santo Niño,
from the 17C and 18C.
At this point the road enters the sierra of Cadiz and the region
where de la frontera (of the border) is added to the place names
in memory of the times when it was the border land between Christianity
and Islam.
Jimena de la Frontera (23km) lies at the end of a short turn off
on the right of the road. The village lies unspoilt at the foot
of an Arab castle, surrounded by forests and pasture where horses
and fighting bulls graze. The most remarkable buildings are the
Sanctuary of La Reina de Los Angeles and the Church of La Misericordia.
Immediately after crossing the bridge of the River Hozgarganta,
there is an 8km turn off.
The old part of Castellar de la Frontera (15km) still preserves
a semi abandoned cluster of houses inside the old Muslim area. The
view from there is splendid and reaches as far as the bay of Algeciras
and the African coast. The village is reached by passing through
the only gate in the curtain wall. In the surroundings of Castellar
there are extensive forests of cork oaks, carob trees, bays, walnut
trees and ash-trees where boar, fox and red deer abound. The Costa
del Sol is again almost around the corner.
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