Montejaque

What to See in Montejaque

Montejaque’s greatest tourist attraction is obviously its natural setting, since the only important monument as such is the Santiago el Mayor parish church located between the village’s upper and lower parts. Its construction dates from the sixteenth century (late Gothic), but the church as it appears today is the result of the reconstruction carried out in 1773. It consists of three irregular naves and its most interesting feature is the pictorial decoration of the Baroque chapel in the Evangel Side nave.

Since more than likely the traveller will also use this trip to visit Benaoján it should be remembered that in that municipality, very close to Montejaque (only 2 kilometres), is the Cueva de la Pileta (La Pileta cave), which has been designated a National Cave Art Monument due to the quality of its paintings.

The Hundidero-Gato cave system, literally swallowing up the river Guadares for 4 kilometres, is remarkable for its speleological value. Some years ago, a project was carried out to build a dam and take advantage of the heavy rainfall in the area. However, the initiative came to a halt when they discovered that limestone, which should serve as a natural wall, drained and opened lots of leakages. The construction stood as a monument to lack of technical foresight; it is weirdly beautiful. Ladders and bridges can still be found inside the caves which were used by workers in the early twentieth century in search for leakages; it took them thirty days to complete their 4.5-kilometre search. Now, after heavy rains, the dam gets filled with water and the place becomes incredibly beautiful. To access the cave system, you have to go down steep stone stairs with the help of an iron rope covered with plastic. The stretch is short but tough. The bottom is spectacular, for you can see rocks rising up and trapping the landscape inside. There are companies offering guided spelunking tours and providing the necessary outfit and tools. You need a special permission from environmental authorities, and you are strongly advised against visiting the caves on your own without the necessary knowledge or training.

The Washhouse of Fuente Vieja, now a visitor centre, displays the washing tools used by women until not so long ago. The centre includes panels explaining how the washhouse used to be a meeting point to discuss social events and personal affairs. The museum is simple but interesting, giving a clear idea of how difficult it was to do the laundry only a hundred years ago.

If you are interested in active travel, pay a visit to the Spelunking Visitor Centre on Andalucía Avenue. They will give you as much information as you might need to visit Sierra de Grazalema Nature Park. The centre is open on Fridays (5:00-10:30 p.m.) and on Saturdays and Sundays (10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and 5:00-10:30 p.m.). Check opening hours with the Montejaque Tourist Office at (+34) 952 167 196.

Montejaque’s Fiestas and Gastronomy

The Virgen de la Concepción (Virgin of the Conception) fiestas take place from 15 to 17 May and also from 13 to 16 August, which is when the celebration has the most drawing power. There are competitions, verbenas (traditional street parties), musical performances (including flamenco) and the procession of the Virgin.

The peculiar "juego del cántaro" (pitcher game) is held during Carnival. It consists of hurling a pitcher from one person to another in ever-widening circles, which increases the likelihood of the pitcher falling to the ground. It was designated as a Fiesta of Provincial Tourist Singularity in 2009.

This municipality’s most traditional dish is guiso de patatas (stewed potatoes) seasoned with a piece of every part of the pig, but other items on the characteristic recipe list of the area are puchero de garbanzos (chickpea soup), calabaza (squash), chícharos or guisantes (peas), alcachofas (artichokes), tocino (bacon), morcilla (black pudding) and carne de chivo (kid). Molletes (flat bread rolls baked with olive oil) and homemade marmalade are indispensable to any Montejaqueña-style breakfast. The local Mosto wine is highly prized for its distinctive flavour.

More Information About Montejaque

Legends About Montejaque

The great devotion to the Virgen de la Concepción that exists in Montejaque derives from a legend that tells how the neighbouring city of Ronda was being devastated by an epidemic and, aware of miracles that had been performed by the patron saint of Montejaque, its residents asked for the Virgin to be brought to perform the miracle of eradicating the epidemic. The bearers of the Virgin noticed that the higher up the ridge at the exit of the village they went, the heavier the image became, until finally they could go no farther and decided to return. The next day a message arrived from Ronda announcing that the epidemic had abated.

Montejaque’s coat of arms bears an acronym, P.O.E.M., whose meaning is still uncertain. After a decision made at the town assembly of May 12, 1987, it is thought to mean "Populorum Omnium Excelsior Montejaque," that is, "Montejaque, the most illustrious of all towns."