Los Guajares

Map of Los Guajares

Upcoming events in Los Guajares

In 28 weeks (Wednesday, Aug. 1st 2012)
Fiesta Gujar Fondn
In 29 weeks (Thursday, Aug. 9th 2012)
Fiesta Gujar Faragit
In 30 weeks (Tuesday, Aug. 14th 2012)
Fiesta Gujar Alto

An area comprising of three small villages; Gujar Alto, Gujar Fondn and perhaps the most well known of the three Gujar Faragit. The name Gujar derives from the Arab word Wa-run, which means steep, of difficult access. In recent years however the difficulty reaching the villages has become a bonus as the valley and villages of Los Gujares have retained the natural beauty and charm of traditional Spanish villages lost by more commercial towns. Through out the Los Gujares valley the ancient Muslim irrigation systems are still in use and used to cultivate the bananas, avocados and cherimoyas (custard apples) grown there today. Acueducto del poblado fortificado de El Castillejo. Diciembre de 2009

Acueducto del poblado fortificado de El Castillejo. Diciembre de 2009

Author: viajeroandaluz

History

The three villages share one town hall (Ayuntamiento), which is situated in Gujar Faragit. This is usually considered the most important of the three villages, and in addition to the town hall and council has an old fortified town that is still well preserved. Known as El Castillejo the walled town is at the top of the hill near Gujar Faragit, and is thought to have been built between the end of the XIII century and the beginning of the XIV, by the Almohads during Moorish rule of Spain. It was the same Almohads a Muslim dynasty and religious group that ruled the Iberian Peninsula in the 12th Century who were the first to settle in the valley, building farmhouses and cultivating the land. When Spain was retaken from the Moors by the Catholic Kings, the Gujares were divided up as spoils by some of the main lieutenants. Gujar Faragit went to Luis de Portocarrero while Gujar Fondn was given to Don Juan de Ulloa. In later years, following further explusion of the Moors, the farmhouses established in the valley by the Almohads were reduced to the three Gujares which remain today.

Attractions

In addition to a bakery and fresh fish vans on a daily basis each of the villages has several bars and restaurants including one in Gujar Fondn which serves very good pizzas! Especially popular are the homemade sausages, sun-dried tomato salads, apricots and choto al ajillo (baby goat in garlic sauce) - one of most famous dishes made in the region.