October 11, 2015
Our first week walking the Pueblos Blancos of the Cádiz province took us from Olvera to Setenil, El Gastor and Zahara de la Sierra. This week – Grazalema, El Bosque, Ubrique, Benaocaz, Villaluenga del Rosario, Montejaque and on to Ronda.
Map of the White Villages
Grazalema POP 2200, ALT 810m
03 & 04 Oct 2015
Wild goats in the mountains between Zahara and Grazalema
Dominated by the rocky outcrop Peñon Grande, pretty Grazalema
Blood and Love in the Mountains Festival - a recreation of the events of 1832
15,000 people from all over Spain descended on the village for the weekend
Locals dressed as bandoleros wander the streets on horseback ...
... and in a recreated 19th century village
Making migas - fried bread, garlic, chorizo & peppers - a longtime staple
Fountain of Pontezuela (Visigoth) one of Andalusia's most beautiful
The magnificent lower fountain with 8 spouts & a single sink brings water to ...
... the public laundry, still in use
The medieval road will take us away from Grazalema
El Bosque POP 2100, ALT 300m
05 Oct 2015
Benamahoma's small bullring & church share a common wall
A lovely hike from Benamahoma to El Bosque along the river ...
... that provides fresh local trout - what we came to El Bosque for
Ubrique POP 16900, ALT 330m
06 Oct 2015
It was raining as we descended into Ubrique
This is what you look like after 15k walking in the rain on a busy road
Main plaza, Ubrique after the rain
Man drinking from 18th century fountain on the plaza
Houses in Ubrique old town
Gañotes, a delicious local biscuit - hand made, freshly baked
Villaluenga del Rosario POP 500, ALT 870m
07 Oct 2015
After 5k uphill on Roman Road ...
... we needed to recharge at the cafe in Benaocaz
Milk from mountain sheep ...
... and the native goats ...
... makes the award winning Payoyo cheeses in the small village of Villaluenga
Villaluenga was our favorite small White Village
Plaza de Toros, Villaluenga, made from stone and with a unique octagonal floor
Villaluenga village soup - chorizo, egg & bread in broth made from bones
Montejaque POP 1000, ALT 680m
08 & 09 Oct 2015
On the GR7 and off the road - 19k & a wonderful days walking ...
... through the cork trees ...
... and down to the high plains ...
... and then up a rough track to the pass following the dirty rocks
Looking back as we climbed in the morning shade
Flower growing in the rocks
Spotted a Griffon Vulture flying low overhead
Twisted Acorn trees on the plains
Descending through the Canyon ...
... to arrive into Montejaque - original houses built in to the cliff
Main plaza Montejaque - C16th Church of Santiago, reconstructed C18th
Benaoján, another White Village, a couple of k from Montejaque
Extensive caves, 6k from Montejaque, have Stone Age paintings from 25,000 years ago & beautiful stalactites and stalagmites (no photos permitted, this is a copy)
The old path to Ronda zigzags up and up ...
... giving us a final glimpse of Montejaque in the early morning ...