Alcalá de los Gazules: Castle, Water Sources and Nature Park

History

The Torre del Homenaje dates from the Islamic period. It stands on Roman foundations belonging to an earlier settlement site. The tower and foundations thus point to different historical phases at the same location. The tower has three floors. The top floor offers a view over the municipality. The Parroquia de San Jorge was built over the former mosque of the castle and features Late Gothic elements. Islamic, Roman and Late Gothic traces are therefore found in close historical context around the castle.

The remains of the Roman city of Lascuta are located on the Mesa del Esparragal. Settlement continued there in the early Middle Ages with a Visigothic settlement area. Evidence of several periods has therefore also been preserved outside the castle. Three historic water sources are located near the town centre. They are called Pozo de Arriba, Pozo de Enmedio and Pozo de Abajo. They supplied the population until the arrival of the piped water supply from Los Regalajes in 1877. Their location near the town centre and their traditional names make the three sites recognisable as independent historic points.

Other destinations to explore include Sanlúcar De Barrameda, Ubrique, Algar, Benalup Casas Viejas, San Roque, La Zarzuela, Rota and El Bujeo.

Orientation

The Oficina de Turismo is the municipal point of contact for visitors. It provides information about Alcalá de los Gazules, including the castle and interesting routes. The information topics mentioned there therefore include both the historic points in the town and the routes in the surrounding area.

Nature

The Centro de Visitantes El Aljibe presents the ecological and landscape features of the Campiña and its forests. It addresses tree formations and the associated wildlife. Natural resources are also among the topics covered there. Current tourism uses are presented as well. The centre thus combines landscape, vegetation, wildlife and the current use of the natural environment in its presentation.

At the Centro de Visitantes El Aljibe, a tour leads through various vegetation formations. Canutos are among these formations. Holm oak forests and oak forests are also included. The tour also covers cloud forests, wild olive groves, Bujeos, lagoon shores and Herrizas. The stops along the tour thus present a sequence of differently named habitats, ranging from forests and olive groves to waterside areas and the Canutos.

The Mirador de la Coracha offers an impressive view of the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales.

Routes

The Patrite Trail features irrigation channels, millstones and water mills. The trail runs along the Rocinejo River and the channel that supplied the mills with water. Water is therefore present along this route not only as a river, but also as part of its former use through channels and mills.

The Carril Cicloturista Picacho-Peguera runs for 40 kilometres through the Montes Propios de Alcalá de los Gazules. This route includes a paved section that is closed to motor vehicles. Several established routes run through the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales. The routes therefore range from a trail with historic traces of water use to a 40-kilometre route through the Montes Propios.

For the overarching travel overview: Cadiz.