The houses are low
with whitewashed facades |
Montejaque is situated in the far west of the
province of Malaga, near the border with the province of Cadiz. The land
belonging to the municipality extends along the Valley of the River Guadiaro
and into the Sierra del Libar.
This means that the area is full of spots of outstanding natural beauty.
The village of Montejaque is Arabic in origin, as is its name, which means
"lost mountain". There used to be a medieval alcazaba (fortified
palace or castle) here, with minarets, from which a watch was kept on part
of the mountain range in the days when the village had a certain importance
in the area. This building has completely disappeared, the only thing that
is left being the name of an estate, Finca El Castillo. Another of the
historical spots in the municipality is known as El Puente, where the
remains of a Roman bridge over the River Campobuche can be seen. Legend
tells that a battle was won here against the French.
The village of Montejaque is superbly orientated and divided into two
clearly differentiated parts, an upper area, the older of the two, and a
more modern one. The upper district is characterised by winding narrow
cobble-stoned streets that are clearly Moorish in origin and the lower part
by straighter thoroughfares.
It is also pleasant to take a walk in the area surrounding the village,
starting at Calle Tajo, in the upper part, and then continuing between the
olive trees and asparagus fields towards Los Llanos de Líbar. At around
five kilometres from the village lies a farmhouse known as El Pozuelo, which
is well-known as there is a spectacular pothole nearby.
Another route that should be taken is the one round
the Hundidero-Gato complex, a cave measuring almost five kilometres in
length. The mouth of the cave is almost 60 metres wide but the excursion
should only be made in the company of expert potholers.
Places
to be visited
 |
Church
of Santiago el Mayor
A stroll round the village must include a visit to the church of
Santiago La Mayor (Great St. James), which stands at the dividing
line between the old and the modern districts. It dates from the
sixteenth century but the main part of the building goes back to
re-construction work carried out in 1773. The church has three
naves and roofed with a central barrel vault. The chapel in one of
the side naves has a semi-spherical vaulted ceiling with
interesting painted decorations dating from the 18th
century.
Other visits
The Hundidero-Gato Caves (Carretera MA-505), the Espeológico
(potholing) Museum (Avenida Andalucía), Casa de la Cultura
(Calle Ronda, 2) and the Public Library (Calle Nueva, 6
1º).
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| Where
to eat |
Hotel Palacete
de Mañara. Tel: 952 167 252.
La Casita. Tel: 952 167 120.
Tapas bar and menu of the day.
Bar Alemán (Plaza de La
Constitución, 3), Bar Las Palmeras
(Plaza de La Constitución, 7), Bar El
Rincón (Plaza de La Constitución, 1), Bar
La Taberna (Avenida Andalucía, 14), Bar
El Latero (Calle Mauel Ortega, 2), Bodeguita
Don Adrián (Calle Carnero, 1), Bar
Armando (Calle Santa Cruz, 2) and Bar
La Cabaña (Avenida Europa).
Bar Restaurante 'Mesón El Serrano'.
Specialising in pork products. (Barriada Santiago).
Pub '31' Café. Good music.
(Barriada Santiago).
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| Where
to sleep |
Hotel
Palacete de Mañara. Tel: 952 167 252.
Rural houses
Sierra Rural. Tel: 952 168
120.
Casitas de la Sierra.
C/Cardenal Herrera Oria, 3. Tel: 952 167 392. Fax: 952 167 299.
Casa de la Tita Josefita. Tel:
952 168 020.
Rural
Accommodation in the province of Malaga
(in
Spanish)
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Old family house with
its coat of arms |
FIESTAS
Montejaque’s annual fair is held from
August 12th to 15th. The festivities begin at midday on the
Saturday with the church bells being rung, but it is not until eight in
the evening that the image of the Immaculate Virgin is brought out in
procession. The fairground is lit up at 11 p.m. and the casetas with music
and competitions are then opened.
The Sunday begins with a procession through the streets at ten in the
morning and the daytime feria starts at 12.30 p.m. in the square. The
flamenco performances begin at 8.30 p.m., followed later by orchestra
music and dancing. More fun with music, dancing and various performances
on the Monday, and the event begins to wind down on the Tuesday with a
mass in honour of the town’s patron saint at 12.30 p.m., and then the
stewards for the following year are elected. In the evening there are more
sporting competitions, and the festival finishes at three o’clock the
following morning with firecrackers going off in the square.
GASTRONOY
A visit to Montejaque should start off with a
good breakfast, with baps and home-made jam.
After wandering around
try the potato stew, a typical local dish which reflects the local pork
sausage industry, or a stew made with chick peas, pumpkin, artichokes,
pork fat, black pudding and kid. These dishes should be washed down with a
few glasses of mistela, a home-made local drink using natural ingredients
which has a very unusual flavour.
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