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Montejaque
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Town history
Gastronomy
  • Montejaque is a town in the Serrania de Ronda, of Arabic reminiscence, located in the Natural Park of Sierra de Grazalema and has one of the most important cave systems in the entire Spain.

    These are just some of the reasons to visit this town, located in the vicinity of Ronda and witness another era of travel routes of brigands and romantic writers from all over Europe.

    IN MONTEJAQUE YOU CANNOT MISS

    MONUMENTS

    Before heading out to explore the caves, recommend you to visit the Speleological Center. Located on Avenida de Andalucía, in this multimedia museum, you will discover the formation of cavities and chasms, the relationship between sport and spelunking, the importance of conservation of caves and human activity in the valley of Guadiaro. The center also functions as an information point of Natural Park of Sierra de Grazalema.

    Another obligatory stop in the tour is the laundry of Fuente Vieja (Old Fountain). Originally it was the only public authoritative source for women to wash clothes. Currently, it has become an interpretive center to transmit to new generations the tradition and customs of this Malaga town.

    One of the most outstanding monuments of Montejaque is the church of Santiago el Mayor, which was built in the XIV century and renovated in XVIII century. Most observers will realize that this temple marks a line between the two parts of the town: the upper part corresponds to the ancient Arab city, and thereby, it preserves narrow streets; and lower part, correspond to the more modern part, with a rectilinear map. Looking back at the church, we find a gothic architecture and an important pictorial decoration in its chapel. And thanks to the acoustic properties of the place, the monument is home to different concerts of classical style, coral or Celtic throughout the year.

    Further on we find the shrine of the Virgen de la Escarihuela, place of tradition and legend of the Montejaque town; and it reveals the importance that this Virgin has for its inhabitants.

  • Montejaque is located 140 kilometers from the city of Málaga by car. Take the A-357, continue on the A-367 and MA-7401. Then go on the MA-8400 until you reach town.

  • NAURAL RESOURCES

    Montejaque is located in the National Park of Sierra Grazalema, along the valley of Guadiaro River and Sierra de Líbar; a superb location for sports lovers in nature such as trekking, caving and mountaineering enclave. In addition, the town has the first path of the Serrania de Ronda adapted for people with disabilities.

    The National Park of Sierra Grazalema has over 50,000 hectares of area and offers unique landscapes of valleys, canyons and caves. In this area, we will find one of the places of pilgrimage of cavers from all over Spain. Montejaque is situated near the Cueva del Hundidero, part of one of the largest speleological systems in Spain and the largest in Andalusia, the Hundidero-Gato complex. Located in the course of Gaduares River, the Cave of Hundidero has more than 50 meters height at some points.

    POPULAR FESTIVALS

    Montejaque has several celebrations of great cultural value, including a celebration with the seal of Provincial Tourist Singularity. This is related with Crock Games, held on February 28 during Carnival. During the celebration, participants throw a pitcher on each other increasingly opening the circle. The one who lets it fall wins. Are you going to lose this year?

    Between 16 and 18 May Montejaque celebrates the Fair in honour of the Virgen de la Concepción. Fireworks, bands, bridesmaids and paella are the major players in these days as indicated.

    On July 25 and 26 are also the festival days in this town with the Festivity of Santiago. The proclamation gives way to two days of festivities, full of tradition and dances. But perhaps the most notable is the Montejaque Fair, which takes place between August 12 and 15, heiress of the old livestock fairs as many towns in the Costa del Sol.

    GASTRONOMY

    Montejaque you can learn the traditional cuisine of the Serrania de Ronda. We recommend that in cold weather do not miss the chicharrones (small pieces of fried pork), the stew with potatoes and stew are also famous chicharrones tortillas (greaves omelette), chorizo in colorá shortening (lard with paprika) and artisanal jams. And you can not go without trying the mistela Montejaque, drink herbs typical of this area.

  • Town history

    Montejaque was founded by the Arabs, who also gave the village its name (meaning "distant mountain" in Arabic). They also seem to have built a castle dominating part of the sierras; if so, no vestiges of it have come down to us. After the Reconquista, in the late fifteenth century, Montejaque and Benaoján were transferred to the Count of Benavente, no longer considered as suburbs of Ronda.

    During the sixteenth-century Moorish riots, Montejaque was the setting of curious events. The Mayor, Mohammad Idriz, was the victim of repeated attacks in retaliation for his helping the Christian rebels. However, when the rioters were defeated and all Moors expelled, he got land and a pension as a reward.

    Nineteenth-century chroniclers mention a brave warrior, José de Aguilar, who on 20 October 1810 faced the troops of Napoleon"s army on the bridge across the river Guadares in the context of the Peninsular War. Leading a bunch of 250 men from Montejaque, Benaoján, Atajate, Cortes de la Frontera and Jimera de Líbar, he defeated 600 French soldiers and 90 cavalrymen. He became a local hero.

  • People tend to eat pork rinds, the guiso stew with potatoes and the puchero stew. The tortilla de chicharrones, chorizo in lard and artisanal jams are other products. Another traditional product from this area is mistela, the local liquor.


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Characteristics

  • Inhabitants (1,001-2,500)
  • Inland area

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