Castillo de Castellar de la Frontera

This 12th century castle stands high on the hilltop overlooking the mountains of the provence of Cadiz and the Guadarranque river and reservoir below. The village of Castellar de la Frontera was built within the castle walls - white washed houses in a maze of winding cobbled streets.

The castle played an important role in the wars between the Spanish and the Muslims - having such a high advantage point, many cultures were keen to control it. In the early 1970s the few remaining inhabitants were relocated to Nuevo Castellar (New Castellar) in houses with mod cons (which the old village houses were lacking). The derelict village attracted a hippy colony and is still home to a number of bohemian people today. Tucked within the walls of the castles are many artisan shops.

In 1983 the Spanish Government expropriated Castellar and declared it a Historical and Artistic Monument and is now a protected site. They invested a substantial sum to restore the castle and village.

The afternoon was spent back at the apartment sunbathing by the pool. Dinner was at a lovely Italian restaurant in the port followed by a wander round the local bars.