Gaucin
Gaucín is an ancient mountain village under 30 minutes drive from the Mediterranean coast, located in a national park on the borders of Malaga and Cadiz provinces in Southern Spain.
The village is inland from the well-known resorts of Marbella, Puerto Banus and Estepona and about 40 minutes drive from the heritage city of Ronda
Gaucín is perched nearly 700 meters above sea level and commands spectacular views over Gibraltar, the Mediterranean and the Rif Mountains of North Africa.
The origins of the village are Roman though the Medieval Moorish architecture and lay-out is the most visible influence today. Gaucin was a popular destination in the 19th Century for residents of Gibraltar seeking the slightly cooler night air of the mountains during the summer heat.
The village is home to about 2,000 residents and is very well supplied by over a dozen tapas bars and restaurants. It also has several wonderful family-run delicatessens with local produce, a traditional tiled market hall and a supermarket for the essentials
Gaucin has an Olympic sized outdoor pool (only open in July and August) and a free all-year tennis court.
Local activities focus on the splendid countryside and include mountain hiking, river swimming, riding, bird-watching and cycling.
Most people find it hard to leave the relaxed and family-friendly ambience of Gaucin but there’s so much to explore nearby.
The village is less than an hour’s drive from several glitzy golf courses, beaches, yacht harbours and polo clubs.
Kite-surfing at Tarifa and superb Atlantic beaches are less than two hours away. Seville, Granada and Cadiz provide plenty to see on longer excursions, and Tangiers in Morocco is accessible by jet-foil for an exotic lunch or unforgettable stay in the crumbling medina
What's on....
The village hosts popular cultural events throughout the year including an annual art exhibition, flamenco festival and countless smaller fiestas, traditional parades, art shows and gastronomic events.
The village inspired Bizet to write Carmen and retains its air of mysterious alley-ways and smugglers, no doubt one of the many factors along with the views and clarity of light which have drawn around 30 Spanish and international artists to live and work here.
Gaucin like many Spanish Village has a plethora of fiestas every year, both annual and impromptu, the main stage on the plaza is a regular fixture with the Easter fiesta, to the Flamenco (july) and Santa Nino (sept) festivals.
Gaucín is set to come alive this September with a packed weekend offering a full menu of good food, drink and live music. Jointly organized by the town hall´s tourism and culture departments, 11 of the villages bars and restaurants will take part in the event.
Spread over three days, from 22 – 24 September, the first-ever Encuentro Gastronómico in this mountain village will have something to suit all tastes including a tapas route, special dishes in its award-winning restaurants, cookery demonstrations, the opportunity to sample locally produced wines, beers and spirits.
Let’s hope it’s a huge success and becomes another annual fiesta 🙂
