The history of Castellar de La Frontera can be divided into two pretty distinct periods. The first is full of historical anecdotes and is based in the Old Town of Castellar. The second is more recent and begins thirty years ago in 1971 when most of the inhabitants of the Old Town left their homes to move to the new area, Nuevo Castellar, whose modern square frames an image of their former castle home on the hill behind.

The Old Town of Castellar is set within a medieval fortress in a strategic position atop of a mountain. This unique positioning has meant that Castellar has been home to many cultures and people dating as far back as the Neolithic man, evident in cave paintings that can be found in the location of the old town. Romans also inhabited this small town although their presence was not too marked. The most important inhabitants, as in many parts of southern Spain, were the Muslims. The entire fortress walls surrounding the town were built by the Muslims in a bid to ward off attacks from the Christians who eventually conquered the land in the shape of Juan Arias de Saavedra in 1434 AD.

The new village, founded by the Spanish dictator Franco in the 1970’s, resulted in an improved way of life for the inhabitants of Castellar with better living conditions and a superior infrastructure which had previously been impossible in the old town due to the location and terrain. The town’s inhabitants, whilst still eager to maintain their heritage in the mountain castle village, were quite pleased to move into the new town which in terms of modernity showed a marked contrast to the homes they had left behind. During the relocation many of the abandoned homes in the old town were taken over by retired hippies and it became, and still is to this day, a bit of a bohemian enclave.

Very few tourists actually make it to Castellar castle and as a result it is very easy to get to and easy to walk round. As you walk through the main arch to the castle and into the town itself, you are met with a maze of tiny alleys and streets, lined with white washed houses, decorated with colourful plants and local ceramics. In the spring and summer, orange blossom and jasmine fills the air with an overpowering scent. The 13th century castle is of irregular shape and the Royal Palace is located over the main entrance. The views over the valley from the battlements are stunning and there are spectacular views of the Guadarranque reservoir below. On a clear day it is possible to see Gibraltar, Algeciras, the north coast of Africa and the surrounding white villages. Inside the castle, among the tiny dwellings is a hotel consisting of Casa Rurals (tiny houses used as hotel rooms), several bars and a few shops selling local crafts.

There are a number of restaurants in Castellar where you can sample the local cuisine which mainly consists of game, especially venison, rabbit and partridge. Rabbit with tomato is a particular speciality, as is goat stew.
The area within the municipality of Castellar, next to the train station, known as Almoraima, is now a protected natural area which is teeming with wildlife. Amongst the wild animals living on the estate are fallow deer, roe deer, oxen and mountain goats. At the heart of the estate is the Casa Convento La Almoraima, a charming convent dating from the 17th century, which now operates as a countryside hotel, hunting lodge and restaurant, offering game lunches on Sundays. Directly behind the convent you will also find large stables, which offer horseriding tours through the leafy cork woods of los Alcornocales.
As well as the Almoraima, in the area known as ‘Cerro del Moro’ there is a zoo for visitors where, in addition to animals native to the region, you will find monkeys, reptiles, bears and foxes as well as a walking route and a picnic area.