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Zahara de la Sierra

Right in the heart of the Sierra de Grazalema National Park, in the extreme North East of the Province of Cádiz, the town of Zahara de la Sierra is situated at the foot of the El Jaral Mountains. It is part of the ‘Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos’ (White Town Trail).

Zahara has been a National Heritage Site since 1983 due to its rich past evident in its monuments, the unusual layout of its streets lined with traditional houses and its cultural heritage. It has beautiful white washed streets, flower-filled balconies and magnificent views.

Located on a sloping hillside, Zahara has a peculiar urban layout which mimics the irregularities of the land. The streets are staggered in such a manner that when you are walking through them, one minute they block your view entirely and the next provide amazing views.

At the top part of the town you can find the remains of the XIII to XV Century Homenaje Castle and Tower. There are few remains of the former Medieval town of Zahara to give us an idea of what it was originally like, though the entire town was surrounded by defences consisting of thick walls with towers at intervals. In some places there were even double walls, meaning that any attackers would have had to cross both of these before even attempting to take the castle. The best preserved section of the wall can be found in the East of the town.

El Homenaje Tower is all that remains of the original defences and it is situated and the nerve point of the former castle on its highest side, at 605 m above sea level.

Other interesting monuments include the XVII Century Santa María de la Mesa Church, the XX Century San Jaun de Letán Chapel, the Clock Tower next to the San Juan de Letrán Monastery and the remains of the XV to XVII Century Iglesia Mayor (with its hexagonal tower).

Area Recreativa de Arroyomolinos - La Playita (foto Ayto Zahara de la Sierra)

The countryside surrounding Zahara de la Sierra is typical of that of the Grazalema National Park. There are zones of exceptional natural beauty such as Zahara de la Sierra reservoir where you can try various types of water sports. There is also the Arroyomilinos/La Playita recreational area which is situated at the foot of the Monte Prieto Mountains, on the edge of a reservoir only 300 m from El Susto Cave.

Map of Zahara de la Sierra

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RESERVA TU ALOJAMIENTO EN ZAHARA DE LA SIERRA!!

Nautical sports in the Reservoir of Zahara de la Sierra

Another notable spot is the so called ‘Garganta Verde’ (Green Gorge), a beautiful, deep gully in the outskirts of the town, perfect for hiking and canyoning. The striking geography surprises any visitor who does not already know what to expect. This impressive canyon closes in little by little until there are only two narrow walls of rock with a height of almost 200 metres.

You will also come across the Ermita de la Garganta Cave, where over time geological phenomenon have produced stalagmites and stalactites which form beautiful patterns with their shadows. (You must have permission and a guide to visit the caves. Call beforehand to confirm routes. Visits are possible any day, except on days on which it rains and the day after).

If you are interested in trying activities such as: hiking, pony trekking, caving or canyoning in Zahara de la Sierra, click on our Active Tourism link.