Jimena de la F. to Castillo de Castellar

Jimena de la Frontera to Castillo de Castellar, 21 km - Tugasa Casa Rural no. 8

We made it through the mud! It wasn't anywhere near as bad as in 2009. Most of the day we walked parallel to the railway line, so Ned had plenty of chances to listen for trains, watch them pass, and film them. Mr. Henderson's Railway, as it was called, has been upgraded to allow higher speed trains to now travel the line between Algeciras and Ronda.

Castillo de Castellar has an unusual history. The castle was one of a series of border defenses built by the Muslims in the 13th century. After the reconquest, its residents became virtual serfs on the vast latifundia surrounding the village, one of the largest in Europe. Franco had a new village, Castellar de la Frontera, built along the railway line in the 1960's and moved the villagers there.Read more