El Gastor
El Gastor is a small white village on a hillside at about 590 metres in the Sierra de Cádiz, called the Balcony of the White Villages for its views over the Zahara-El Gastor reservoir.
About El Gastor
El Gastor sits at about 590 metres below the crags of the Tajo de Algarín, looking west over the Zahara-El Gastor reservoir to the Sierra de Grazalema. Megalithic tombs show people lived here in prehistory; for centuries the village, then La Puebla de Castores, depended on Zahara. Its views earned it the name Balcón de los Pueblos Blancos. About 1,700 people live here.
The church of San José stands on Plaza de la Constitución, the heart of the village. The Museo de Usos y Costumbres Populares shows old tools and household objects and tells the story of the sierra's bandits, such as El Tempranillo. The Fuente Diego fountain and an old olive mill recall village life, and a path climbs to the Dolmen del Gigante, a passage grave about 9 metres long.
El Gastor is 31 km (35 minutes) from Ronda, 101 km (1 hour 40 minutes) from Seville and 117 km (2 hours) from Málaga airport. Park at the edge and walk; the streets are steep but short. Allow an hour or two, or half a day with the dolmen or the 5.7 km path to Zahara. It suits walkers, families and anyone touring the reservoir villages.
Spring and autumn are best; summer afternoons are hot. Corpus Christi, in late May or June, is the main festival. Local crafts include esparto pleitas and a folk wind instrument, the gaita gastoreña. Look for olive oil and goat's cheese. Tip: the dolmen path continues to the Tajo de Algarín, a natural viewpoint over the reservoir.
El Gastor in pictures
What you’ll find
- Car parkParkingFree
- ChurchChurch visitFree
- FestivalAnnual festivalFree
- Hiking trailHikingFree
- Historic centreOld town walkFree
- Local craftsCraft shoppingBuy
- Local foodLocal cuisineBuy
- ViewpointSightseeingFree
Nearby places to visit
Across the reservoir, Zahara de la Sierra (6 km) faces El Gastor from its crag, and a 5.7 km path links the two. Garganta Verde (8 km), a deep gorge with griffon vultures, needs a free permit. To the north-east, Olvera (10 km) and its Castillo de Olvera (10 km) crown a hill above olive groves, while the vultures of Peñón de Zaframagón (15 km) nest on a crag beside the Vía Verde de la Sierra. Setenil de las Bodegas (13 km), with houses built under the rock, lies to the east.
El Gastor at a glance
Category
Culture White villages
Location
Sierra de Cádiz, Cádiz
Town
El Gastor
Address
Plaza de la Constitución, 11687 El Gastor, Cádiz, Spain
Opening hours
Open access; the streets and viewpoints can be visited at any time. Museo de Usos y Costumbres Populares: opening hours vary; check with the town hall before visiting.
Prices
Free to walk around; ask at the town hall about entry to the museum.
More places nearby
Other places within 25 km of El Gastor, nearest first.
