El Gastor – Dolmen, white façades and festival culture

El Gastor combines historical heritage, natural surroundings, craftsmanship, cuisine and festival culture to create a diverse townscape. Between neoclassical architecture, the Bronze Age, high-altitude trails and Andalusian customs, there are numerous different themes to consider when planning a trip.

Culture and history

The Iglesia de San José is a neoclassical church dating from 1747, built in the 18th century; its structure was reconstructed after it was looted during the Spanish Civil War. The Museo de Usos y Costumbres José María El Tempranillo is located in a house dating from the late 18th century that preserves its original structure and original walls. The Dolmen del Charcón, also known as Tumba del Gigante, is a megalithic burial site from the Bronze Age on the slope of Tajo Algarín at an altitude of 830 metres. It is the largest dolmen in the province of Cádiz.

El Molino is a building owned by the municipality. It was built in 1932, remodelled in 2000 and is currently used as a meeting and exhibition space. In October, El Gastor hosts the Certamen flamenco, which pays tribute to a great master of the flamenco guitar and is attended by prominent representatives of the contemporary flamenco scene.

Townscape, craftsmanship and cuisine

The typical streets of El Gastor are narrow and steep; their white façades are decorated with hundreds of colourful flower pots. Guisote gastoreño is a local dish made with asparagus and garlic. The Gaita gastoreña is a wind instrument made from a bull’s or cow’s horn, with a piece of oleander or walnut wood fitted to its end and a small reed tongue.

Pleitas are woven items made from palm leaves or esparto grass with three to seventeen strands; they are used, among other things, to make espadrilles, mats and bottle covers. The traditional Guisote competition brings residents and visitors together in Plaza de Andalucía to sample this dish from gastoreño cuisine.

Nature and trails

Tajo Algarín reaches an altitude of 1,060 metres, while Las Grajas reaches 1,040 metres. The Ruta del Dolmen del Gigante is one of the hiking trails in the natural area of Algarín and Las Grajas near El Gastor. The Sendero Zahara-El Gastor hiking trail begins outside El Gastor near the junction of Calle de los Corrales and Calle del Portezuelo, where the CA-9114 road to Ronda begins.

The proximity of El Gastor-Zahara Reservoir makes water sports such as kayaking and canoeing possible. Caving can be practised in Susto Cave. The various focuses therefore range from hiking trails and highlands to activities on the water and underground.

Festivals in El Gastor

Corpus Christi in El Gastor is recognised in Andalusia as a festival of tourist interest. It brings residents and visitors together; streets, altars and decorative elements accompany the procession and emphasise the solemn character of the festival. The Certamen de gaita gastoreña takes place during the Corpus Christi celebrations, where participants demonstrate their skill in playing this instrument.

More destinations

Espera, Chipiona, Palmones, Estella del Marqués, Villamartín, Conil De La Frontera, Alcalá De Los Gazules, Medina Sidonia

For the higher-level travel overview: Cadiz.