The Fascinating History Of Gaucin In The Costa Del Sol For The Keen Visitor.

Posted by joanne on January 12th, 2009 at 09:21pm

The Famed History Of Gaucin In The Costa Del Sol For The Avid Visitor.

When you are hiring a Apartment in Casares you might wish to visit the attractive mountain village of Gaucin. Those staying in Casares villas or apartments highly recommend a scenic tour of both Gaucin and Casares to see the contrast between the two.

Gaucin commands sweeping views of the Rif Mountains of Africa and Gibraltar. The village is a literally a painter’s palette showing amongst its colours vivid red poppies, yellow mimosa, and wild orchids depending on the season you visit.

Having only a population of some 2000 or so you won’t be overrun by the locals at its busiest. Once the village was a major Roman settlement. Its castle, Castillo del Aguila (meaning Eagle’s Castle due to its lofty position) was built in Roman times and was later developed into a fortress by the Arabs. Study carefully and you may well find eagles circling above, while smaller kestrels often nest in the walls of the medieval convent.

The Romans settled in Gaucin as they found it the easiest place to access the Ronda mountain range from the sea to penetrate to the heart of the region. The Roman road, Camino de Gibraltar, is still used, and in parts unbelievably the original stones are intact. Gaucín was in fact a resting place for the fighters after the battle between Julius Caesar and the sons of Pompey.

Gaucin is constructed around a maze of narrow twisting streets and was once a haven for brandy and tobacco smugglers who frequented the area. Up until recently a visit was like stepping back in time as the majority of houses had no running water and one light bulbs.

Gaucin actually predates the Roman period. Step back in time by visiting the Cave and see the prehistoric Cave paintings. Ancient Iberian ceramics have been found in the castle’s water deposit. Gold mines were established by the Phoenicians on the nearby Sierra Bermeja and probably controlled Gaucín during their hegemony in the region.

In 714 AD Tarik the Moor invaded Spain via Gibraltar using the Roman roads and Gaucin was the scene of many a long and bloody battle. King Henry IV finally liberated Gaucín in 1457.

The British took Gibraltar in 1704 and the local priest, fearing that Gaucín would be ramsacked, hid church treasures, but the British stayed away. By the end of the century many British Gibraltarians were coming to the Gaucín to spend the summers in the cool mountains.

In 1808 the French invaded Gaucín during the Napoleonic Wars. Seven hundred brave guerrillas tried unsuccessfully to defend the castle. Gaucin subsequently became very poor and many local men became Banoleros, (bandits) ,Bandoleros (bandits) and contrabandistas (sellers of smuggled goods) providing inspiration for Prosper Merimée´s novel that was adapted by Bizet into the opera Carmen. There is allegedly evidence to prove that it was not Rhonda but Gaucin that was the setting for the Bandolero Act III.

‘Toro de Cuerda’ (bull on a cord) is one of the most popular festivals of the year. On Easter Sunday two bulls, one at 10 a.m. and one at 4 p.m., are loosed to run through the town, chased by the brave. Much drinking, feasting and hilarity occurs.

There are plenty of suitable Apartments in Casares in which to stay to tour the area, or instead choose from those in nearby Mijas Costa.

Get yourself a vacation home.

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