Partial view of
Ojén |
Ojén is situated between the Sierra Blanca and
Sierra Apujata mountains, a natural enclave that is one of the most
spectacularly beautiful of the white villages of Andalucía, within the
Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park. Its rich and varied landscape was first
officially protected by being designated a Nature Reserve, then a Hunting
Reserve and finally a Nature Park, and it is classified in the international
environmental catalogue as part of the Nature Reserve of the Biosphere.
There are ten municipalities in the Sierra de las Nieves region, the other
nine being Alozaina, Casares, El Burgo, Casarabonela, Guaro, Istán, Monda,
Tolox and Yunquera, covering three separate geographical areas: the
Serranía de Ronda, the Guadalhorce Valley and the Costa del Sol. In spite
of its proximity to the coast, the village has maintained its Andalusian
charm, evident in the narrow and winding streets, some with steps; the small
whitewashed houses with window pots and the traditional village square.
The first residents of the area settled here in the Middle Palaeolithic
period, and Neolithic remains have been found in the Pecho Redondo Caves.
Although there is no documentary evidence of the Romans having lived in
Ojén, it is believed that there was a small Roman farming settlement here.
The Moors arrived in 711, leaving their mark on the village itself, its
layout and its architecture, and on the surrounding countryside in the shape
of irrigation channels. They built a castle here too, the remains of which
are still visible on the upper part of the village. The village was
conquered by the Christian forces in 1485. At that time it had important
commercial links with North Africa, and formed part of the municipality of
Marbella. The Morsicos (Moors "converted" to Christianity) were
definitively expelled from the area by King Felipe III in 1609, and two
centuries later Ojén became independent of Marbella. King Alfonso XIII
visited the village and stayed at the Refugio de Juanar, a National Parador
from 1965 and now run as a co-operative by the people of Ojén.
Places
to be visited
 |
Church
of La Encarnación (16th century)
The church of the Encarnación was built over an old mosque, the
minaret of which survives as the present church spire and
bell-tower. Inside there is a single nave with a beautifully
decorated timber ceiling.
El Molino Museum (19th century)
This museum is situated on the site of the last aguardiente
factory in Ojén. The ancient mill can be worked by waterpower or
electricity, and produces one of the most valued products of the
locality: olive oil.
Fuente de los Chorros
This typical Andalusian fountain was erected as an emblem of the
village’s plentiful supply of water. The water flows from here
through channels that date from Moorish times to irrigate the land
below the village, just as it was used hundreds of years ago.
Natural surroundings
The mountains around Ojén are heavily forested with oak, pine,
cork trees and an area of pinsapo trees, a rare species of
Mediterranean pine. There are numerous animal species here too,
such as the mountain goat, the royal eagle and the royal owl. One
can also see in the area genets, mongoose, polecats and a host of
smaller animals. The flora here
is especially rich too, with an abundance of medicinal plants,
herbs and wild flowers. Along the river Almadán and in the area
known as the Charco de las Viñas, one can spot interesting
reptiles and amphibians.
Museo del Vino (Wine Museum)
C/Carrera, 39. Open every day in summer from 11 to 3 p.m. and 6 to
10 p.m., and in winter from 11 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. Tel: 952
881 453.
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| Where
to eat |
Restaurante
Castillo Solís. Traditional cooking and tapas.
C/Carrera, 4. Tel: 952 881 040.
Restaurante El Fogón de Flore.
Large terrace. C/Carrera, 8. Tel: 952 881 461.
Restaurante Fernando.
Traditional cooking and tapas. C/Carrera, 44. Tel: 952 881
237.
Restaurante El Poli.
Terrace and swimming pool. Polideportivo de Ojén. Tel: 952 881
150.
Restaurante Venta de Paula.
Terrace and swimming pool. Ctra.Monda-Marbella. Tel: 952 113 068.
Restaurante Lorente.
Specialising in meats barbecued on a wood fire. C/La
Carretera(Junquillo, 34). Tel: 952 881 174.
Bar-Restaurante El Castillo.
Specialising in meat, fish and paellas. C/Paseo del Castillo, 1.
Tel: 952 881 040.
Restaurante-Pizzería El Pasaje.
Pizzas and hamburgers. C/Carrera, 12. Tel: 952 881 115.
Restaurante La Bodega de Ojén.
Castillian cooking. C/Carrera, 18. Tel: 952 881 581.
Grill Museo del Vino de Málaga.
Grills, wine tasting. Tel: 952 881 453.
Restaurante Juanar. Game
and international cuisine. Sierra Blanca s/n. Tel: 952 881 000.
Restaurante Casa Nueva.
Carretera de Ojén. Dining room and tapas.
Restaurante Barranco.
Local cuisine. Ctra. de Ojén, Km, 5. Tel: 952 881 191.
Restaurante El Pelegrino.
Local cuisine. Ctra. de Ojén.
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| Where
to sleep |
La
Posada del Ángel. C/Mesones, 21. 29610. Ojén.
Tel: 952 881 808.
La
Hostería de Don José. Paseo del Chifle, s/n.
29610. Ojén.Tel: 952 881 147.
Casa rural El Almendro Blanco.
Camino de la Almadraba, s/n. Tel: 952 881 147.
Hotel Refugio de Juanar(3*).
C/Sierra Blanca, s/n.Tel: 952 881 000.
Hostal El Solar(Hs)*.
Córdoba, 2. Tel: 952 881 149.
Rural
Accommodation in the province of Malaga
(in
Spanish)
|
Church of La
Encarnación |
FIESTAS
The Feria in Ojén, in honour of its
patron saint, San Dionisio, takes place in October. This event is unique
in the way that all the activities, musical and otherwise, take place on
the streets and in the town square. Residents and visitors alike gather in
the square and dance to the music of the orchestra in the open air.
Another interesting festival in the village is the Romería on May 1st,
and on November 1st there is the traditional tostón and
Romería in the Cruz de "Juaná". Ojén is also considered the
capital of Flamenco music in the province of Malaga, its annual Festival
de Cante Flamenco taking place in July and attracting the top Flamenco
singers and musicians from all over Spain.
GASTRONOMY
The gastronomy of the village is based on
local produce such as game, goat cheeses and milk products. Of special
importance are the soups, the rice and noodle dishes, the fish and the
delicious almond-flavoured gazpacho.
Among the favoured game
dishes are rabbit in garlic and partridge. Pork products are an essential
part of the local cuisine, and there is a wide variety of pastries made in
the village.
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