Gaucín, the Gateway to the Serranía de Ronda

Castillo del Águila
Eagle castle

Prologue:

The village of Gaucín is located in the southern part of the Serranía de Ronda and the river valley of the Lower  Genal. Its name comes from the arabic Gair-Guazan and meaning strong rock. 

It is one of our favourite destinations which we like to visit at different times of the year. On this occasion we made a point of walking up to the Eagle castle (Castillo del Águila). 

Which is well worth a visit,  especially for the 360º panoramic views. 

Castle's opening hours: 10:30 - 13:30 and 16:00 - 18:00
                                                   closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

To the east the Sierra Bermeja and Picos Reales,

 and the Sierra Crestellina.

To the south the Campo de Gibraltar and the North African coast. 

To the west the Sierra del Hacho which can be seen nearest to Gaucín.

To the north the Serranía de Ronda and the Genal valley and the white villages (Pueblos blancos) dotted amongst the verdant hillsides. 

       Directions:

• From Marbella on the Autopista A-7 is about 67 km to the village of Gaucín and it takes about 1 hour,  including stops at viewpoints.
• Take exit on toll road by Manilva direction Casares A-377. 
• When you turn of the Toll road you will see a big quarry to the right, the road to Casares/Gaucín leads above it and alongside a windmill park. 
• It is a very scenic drive and you feel in harmony with nature, grazing Andalusian cows, wandering goats and horses in  a field, can be seen along the way, as well as birds of prey like the Griffon vulture which glide through the air above you.

At the viewpoint just outside Gaucín, when coming from Manilva.

The village Gaucín stretches like an amphitheater from the foot of the castle Castillo Del Águila to the slopes of Sierra del Hacho,

it is quite unique, in that it is set on a mountain ridge with the castle at the highest point, and one side of the village faces the coast and the other side the Serranía de Ronda.

Reaching a crossroad at the beginning of the village of Gaucín you can take a right turn to enter the pueblo to the south or you carry on left, and 100 meters further on at the roundabout, take a right towards Ronda A-369. This takes you to the north side of the village. 

Either way it is best to park the car at the entrance as roads in the village get narrow and windy.

Note: At the roundabout you will see a petrol station and it is a good idea to fill up now if you want to carry onto Ronda  for example, as petrol stations inland became scarce. 

If you take the left turn at the roundabout this road (A-405) leads back to the coast and into Cadíz Province. You will reach the coast near Sotogrande.

Crossroad: A-377/Calle Convento

Inside the village, we followed road signs directing us to the castle,
Castillo del Águila.

Gaucín has kept its original Moorish layout: winding streets adapted to the rugged terrain and white-washed houses with wrought-iron balconies.

The Church of San Sebastián, the Hermitage of the Holy child (Ermita del Santo Niño), which you find inside the castle walls, and the Six-Spout Fountain (Fuente de los seis Caños) are the main sights in town.

When walking the streets and alleyways of the village you find many 
picturesque corners, nooks and crannies.



The locals have found an unique way to decorate a square.
The flags are made of wool and crocheted.



The Six-Spout Fountain 1628 (Fuente de los seis Caños) can be found near the Calle Santo Niño



At the square Plaza del Guzman el Bueno



you find the Citizens Information Bureau (Ayuntamiento)

Pérez de Guzmán, better known as Guzmán el Bueno, a nobleman and hero of Spain in the medieval period. He helped to besiege the Moors in one of the Sieges of Gaucin Castle, in which  he lost his life in September 1309.  Gaucín finally was conquered in 1457.

The Tapas Bar La Taberna del Zorro, which serves good and reasonably priced meals, can be found in this square. 

Various eating places which are worth trying can be found in Gaucín.  

Calle Larga is a long stretched out street leading  up to



a Parish church (Parroquía de San Sebastian)





The parish church (Iglecia de San Sebastián), patron of Gaucín, was built at the beginning of  the 16th  Century.

We follow the road up towards the Mirador and the Castillo del Áquila

On the right of the cemetery you find a viewpoint
Mirador del Castillo.

It is a tranquil little park 

where you can take a rest and admire the views.

In the background and high above a rock you see the castle ruins. 

From here we look down upon the village.

The parish church of San Sebastián and in the distance the Sierra del Hacho.

Towards the east the Sierra Crestallina and the Sierra Bermejas.

This statue is in honour of Francisco Garcia de Mota, who used to spend some time in Gaucín and was a Dean in the Cathedral of Málaga for 18 years. 

A tiled information board gives you an insight into the long history 

of the Eagle's Castle. 

Historians believe that the Romans first settled here but it wasn't until the year 914 that the Moors first built a fortification. From that time on the Castillo del Águila played an important role in various battles which took place in the Serranía de Ronda and Campo de Gibraltar. The last significant battle of independence took place in 1812 against the french invasion and the troops of Napoleon.

In the 19th century the castle was used as a military fortress and ammunition depot, but an explosion demolished the castle severely in 1848.

From the Mirador, we retraced our steps back
and followed the sign up to the Castle.

At the foot of the castle you can read up on its history.

Castle Del Águila:

This castle is in fact a fort built by the Romans and reinforced by the Arabs. It lies 688m above sea level, to the west of the Sierra Bermejas. It comprises three walled enclosures containing several towers, three water tanks, an escape tunnel and a hermitage, Santo Niño. (check open hours)

      The map shows you the layout of the castle,

1. East Gate (Puerta Este)
2. North/west Gate (Puerta noroeste)
3. Citadel, The Queens Tower (Ciudadela, Torre de la Reina)
4. Hermitage (Ermita del Santo Niño)
5. Tower of Regent (Torre de la Regente)

Near the entrance you see a tiled picture of a queen.

Some steps leading up to the entrance.

We enter the castle on the east side.

This view takes you back and towards the coast.

As we entered through the castle gates we were amazed to find well preserved cannons standing in the castle's courtyard.

They were all facing south and towards the Campo de Gibraltar.

The Sierra Crestellina and the Sierra Bermeja in the distance.

Don't forget the fortress of Gaucín had a very strategic position as the gateway to the Serranía de Ronda and was certainly worth defending.  

The view through a gun-port.

Within the castle there is a white building where you can find a Museum 

and the Hermitage  of the Holy Child, Ermita del Santo Niño  

This Hermitage dates from the 17th century.

Have a close look at the ceiling.

It consists of intricate plaster work. The dome and the side chapel are decorated with Stucco rosettes.  It is very beautiful.

According to tradition, it was the here where San Juan de Dios had an apparition of the Santo Niño in August 1536. You find a wooden sculpture of San Juan de Dios. 

Further up you see the  Citadel and the Queen's tower.

A  heavy fortified gate lead inside the Citadel. 

The Citadel (Ciudadela) was surrounded by a thick wall and was the most guarded. It also  known as the Queens tower (Torre de la Reina).

The view towards south/west and the Sierra del Hacho.

This view takes you west and towards the Sierra de Libar in the far distance,

 and la Sierrecilla  in the Serranía de Ronda.

We look down upon the Hermitage



 and  towards the Sierra de Crestellina near the village of Casares. 



La Torre de Reina the Queens tower.

A  Bell still hangs at the highest point.



Facing south and towards the Campo de Gibraltar and the African coast.



The views from the Queens tower (Torre de Reina) are amazing.

The view west and across the village.

In the far distance you are able to see 

the village Algatocín and behind the Sierrecilla mountains.

Gaucín (626m) and the Sierra del Hacho (1011 m)



We walk back down and across to the most western part of the castle.



In the castle ground you find some lonely fig trees.





The view east and towards the Cidadel and the Queens tower.








We walk along the castle walls.





Finally,enriched with Gaucín castle's history, we headed back to the village.

For climbing enthusiasts this map shows a route which you can take.



Gaucín has many intriguing alleyways and narrow passages,






entrances covered with flowers,



interesting facades,





Look closely at the roof top!
This house owner is proud of its Roman past.



When you walk through the village you notice colorful Geckos 

sitting on walls of houses and over door ways.

Maybe a sign of good omens.

Rustic looking entrances

and wood carved letter boxes.

La casa de la Pamera, (the house of Palm tree)



A fountain



Informative wall tiles.




We noticed also, information boards on house walls for ornithologists.



You can read the description about the local bird life also in English. 




Some more artwork crocheted in wool.



And so,we had a well deserved lunch in the Tapas Bar

La Taberna del Zorro

Tomato salad with tuna (Ensalada de tomate)

Pork ribs (Costillas  Iberico)

ham croquette (Croquetas de Jamon)

The village of Gaucín is certainly worth a visit, not only for its splendid views and extended history, but also for its ambiance.

How to get to Gaucín

Read more: Serranía de Ronda