Villages in Cadiz
El Gastor
El Gastor
The town of El Gastor is located in the far north-western of Cádiz. At North it borders on Sevilla, at East on Málaga, at West and South on Cádiz.
In the Sierra de Cádiz, El Gastor is known like “Balcón de los Pueblos Blancos”, owing to its whiteness and from its highest point (1.060 metres) you can enjoy a wonderful views of the adjacent towns. El Gastor is part of the Parque Natural de la Sierra de Grazalema.
As regards the history of El Castor, there are several versions, although the following could be the one that is more credible:
The king Alfonso XI de Castilla conquests Olvera, Pruna and Torre Alháquime in 1327, establishing the frontier with the kingdom of Granada, after the killing of Montiel and the push of the Benimerines Mamad V he recovers to his kingdom Torre Alháquime and Qastur (El Gastor ) that was a square like military object to protect Zahara.
Alfonso XI leaves Sevilla in 1327 with the idea of seizing Ronda, but he fails, although he conquests Olvera, Torre Alháquime and Qastur.
With El Gastor being a Christian territory, the town consolidates doing agrarian and shepherding tasks, although it is in the jurisdiction of Zahara as for the religious, social and administrative aspects. This first aspect forms the future of El Gastor, since this went the church of Zahara through a hard and tortuous track and it is when a church is built.
The process of separation between Zahara and El Gastor is gradual and starts in 1820. Since, finally, El Gastor achieved their purposes but not without hard tensions, like the proofs of discharge that Zahara presented accusing El Gastor of being collaborator of bandits and villains (due to the known stays of José María “El Tempranillo” in El Gastor ). In 1834 El Gastor has its own autonomy, establishing its own town hall.
An important fact we have to emphasize is the events that happened in 1885 in this town. A rebellion leaded by 300 or 400 men, who arrived from Puerto Hondo ( Ronda ) appeared September 1st in El Gastor to the cry of ” ¡Viva la República ! “. To this rebellion the inhabitants joined forces like response to the situation of poverty in which the town was plunged, abolishing the monarchist laws. The forces of Algodonales and Zahara are coordinated to try to stifle the rebellion.
It seems that there are texts from the period that corroborate the belief that El Gastor was Independent Republic for 3 days.
Monuments
Molino de Aceite (Oil Mill)
Church of San José
Dolmens
Cave of Fariñ
Cave of El Susto
Interesting Routes
Dolmen of El Gigante (Tajo de Algarin)
Route of La Piedra (Tajo de Algarin)
Valley of Los Dolmenes
Route of La Teja
Route of Las Columnas
Route Acinipo (Ronda la Vieja)
El Gastor Gastronomy
The gastronomy in this town is based on agricultural and ranching products of the lands. The olive trees provide the town with nice olives and from these it is obtained the olive oil.
You can also taste the chacina (cured pork) and sausages like the cured pork sausages, black puddings, chicharrones (cold processed meat made from pork)…
We can mention some important dishes like the typical “Guisote” made out of crumbs, asparagus and garlic, besides the stew, the chicken with almonds, the soups, the scrambled eggs with asparagus, etc.
The most delicious and characteristic sweets are the white bread rolls (roscos blancos) and the los hornazos (cakes made with a batter of eggs and butter) typical of Easter.
How to get there
If you leave from Cádiz you have to continue in: N-443. Then take the: AP-4 and the E-5 / A-4. Salida 80 – Arcos – Circuito de Velocidad. Continue in: A-382 and take the exit towards: Salida 3 Circuito – A-382a – Vía de Servicio – Torremelgarejo. Continue in: A-384, alleyway of Bornos. Continue in: A-374. Turn left: N-342 / CA-9109, then turn right: CA-9110. You have got El Gastor.
Distances
Zahara 17 km
Ronda 33 km
Grazalema 20 km
Algodonales 15 km
Fountains
Gato Fountain
La Fuente (Casco Urbano)
Diego de El Gastor Fountain
Molino Fountain
Bermudez Fountain (Las Mesas)
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Me gustaría saber de un señor de El Gastor,amigo mío de hace 50 años.Se llama ,Manuel Orellana Atienza.No lo veo hace 45 años,y me gustaría saber de él.Gracias.