Gaucin

Gaucin is a spectacularly beautiful mountain village
Gaucin is a spectacularly beautiful mountain village © Michelle Chaplow

Gaucin

Gaucin is a charming whitewashed mountain village, just half an hour's drive from the Costa del Sol.

Gaucin is a spectacularly beautiful mountain village commanding sweeping views to Gibraltar and North Africa. The village is a gateway to the Serranía de Ronda where, depending on the time of year, you can enjoy an impressionist palette of colour: brilliant brush strokes of red poppies, yellow mimosa, purple wild orchids, tempered by the cool green of olive groves and occasional splash of pale pink almond blossom. Indeed, Gaucin is famous for its international artists' community.

The town has a population of less than 2,000, and its narrow medieval streets and tall, narrow houses are sprawled picturesquely over two hills and the adjoining land between them. Perched high above the deep River Genal valley, Gaucin is overlooked by the imposing the Sierra del Hacho mountain. The village is 626m above sea level.

As you would expect from the name, it is not unusual to see eagles circling the towers here, and kestrels nest in the walls of the convent. Gaucin, like many other birding sites in this part of Andalucia, has plaques around the town showing both native and migrating birds which can be seen in the vicinity.

Gaucin offers a hotel in the centre of the village: La Fructuosa plus another in the nearby vllage of Benabarra. There are a number of hostals in the village and just outside, on the road towards… More →

Gaucin is a spectacularly beautiful mountain village commanding sweeping views to Gibraltar and North Africa. The village is a gateway to the Serranía de Ronda where, depending on the time of year… More →

To visit Gaucin from the Costa del Sol, turn inland at Sabinillas (A7 km145), go up the A377 and drive past Manilva and the AP7 motorway toll exit and the turning for Casares. The road skirts… More →

The small tourist office is located near the petrol station, on the road leading into the village from the A-369; it also houses the Museo Etnografia.

The Gaucin bull run, better known locally as the Toro de Cuerda, takes place every year on Easter Sunday. With the first bull released at around 10:30am, an early arrival is strongly encouraged to… More →

Although it is a small pueblo blanco, Gaucin has a good number of restaurants serving up the very best of traditional, Andalucian cuisine. Gordon Ramsay came to this town to film a part of his… More →

Castillo del Aguila (Eagle's Castle) in the Moorish hilltown of Gaucin, consists of a series of fortifications built across a rocky ridge above the village. The castle, which is of Roman origin,… More →

You can find a number of holiday villas for rent in the countryside around Gaucin. The space and the privacy of a villa, with or without a pool and staff, is an attractive option for visitors who… More →

The town's magnificent castle, now called Castillo del Aguila (Eagle's Castle), dates from Roman times, although earlier Iberian ceramics have been found in its water tank. The castle was expanded… More →

Gaucin is delightful village, to just stroll around in the sunshine and here we have highlighted the curiosities of the village. Walk into the village on Calle Luis de Armiñan, past the Convento… More →

COUNTRYSIDE WALKS

There are a number of walk in the vicinity of the village - some of these are described Guy Hunter Watt's book, Walking in Andalucia.

Walking  in AndaluciaThe Walk of Melanie and the Tiger leaves the village by the signed Camino Piedras del Rio near the Castle and cuts across past the Ermita de la Adelfilla, looping round to return up the Roman road known as the 'Camino to Gibraltar'.

Another interesting walk near Gaucin is described in "The Walk of Mr Henderson´s Railway"
Walking in Andalucía is a 260 page full colour guide to some of the very best walks in southern Spain, taking the walker on 34 routes - all starting and most finishing in beautiful villages.

 
Hover the cursor over Gaucin to see bigger map and click to go to the maps page.

Gaucín - Hotels 

Book hotels in Gaucín

Karma La Herriza

Situated in Gaucín, 42 km from La Duquesa Golf, Karma La Herriza features accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden and a terrace. Each accommodation at the 4-star hotel has mountain views, and guests can enjoy access to a restaurant and to a bar. Guests can have a drink at the snack bar.

Casa Laibon

Boasting an infinity pool and views of pool, Casa Laibon is a recently renovated bed and breakfast situated in Gaucín, 46 km from Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor. This property offers access to a terrace, free private parking and free WiFi. The bed and breakfast has family rooms.

Casa Rural Casa del Tigre

Located in Gaucín, Casa Rural Casa del Tigre offers a patio with mountain and lake views, as well as a year-round outdoor pool, solarium and open-air bath. The property features pool and river views, and is 46 km from La Duquesa Golf. The country house also provides free WiFi, free private parking and facilities for disabled guests.

La Fructuosa

Founded at the beginning of the 20th century, the 150-year-old building was a popular hostel called “La Española”, known locally as la Fonda de la Fructuosa, which was the name of the owner. It was a guesthouse with 4 small bedrooms plus the owner´s own room, a dining room and a small kitchen. In the basement were the stables, a rudimentary lavatory and the winery with all the machinery necessary to produce wines and liquors, a —metre press, a room with 4 large barrels and a distillery.

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