Jimera de Líbar

Beautiful rich Autumn colours in the village of Jimera de Libar. © Michelle Chaplow
Beautiful rich Autumn colours in the village of Jimera de Libar.

Jimera de Líbar is an excellent destination for anyone wishing to enjoy the wonders of rural tourism in Andalucia. This town is one of the white villages in the Ronda mountains (Serranía de Ronda). It is nestled in the Guadiaro Valley right across from the Líbar mountain range and – best of all – it is inside the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.

 

 

Sights to See

Within the actual town of Jimera de Líbar the sights centre around the town hall and religious buildings. With the village divided into two separate parts, you have the town hall and the Our Lady of the Rosary Church in one area. The other part of town is actually two kilometres away. It’s called the “Barriada de la Estación” (The Train Station Neighbourhood) and includes the Hermitage for the town’s patron saint, the “Virgen de la Salud” (Virgen of Health).

Outside of the town limits there are also many things to see – possibly more than you’ll find inside the village itself. There is a an archeological site about 4 kilometres from Jimera de Líbar called Finca El Tesoro (Treasure Estate). This is believed to be a Phoenician necropolis. There are also many paths for trekkers outside the town. You can follow one of these to the Pico Martín Gil (Martin Gil Peak) which is the high point of the Sierra de Líbar at around 1,400 meters above sea level. Another interesting sight to see outside of town is the La Flor Mill (Molino La Flor). This old mill rests on the remains of a Roman bridge in amazing natural surroundings. There are also numerous paths running along the river along the old Roman road that linked the Campo de Gibraltar area with the ancient Roman city of Acinipio.

Shopping

If you’d like to bring something back from Jimera del Líbar look for items woven from natural fibres along with carved wooden products like wooden bowls, spoons and other utensils.

Gastronomy

Like all of Andalucia’s mountain villages, you can expect hearty, good cooking in this village. Try the vinegar soup, esparrogus egg tortillas, fried bread crumbs (migas) or desserts like the rosemary honey pastry, snowy eggs (huevos nevaos), muffins or “roscos de vino”. Villagers also produce traditional beverages called “mistela” and “zarzaparilla”. At the end of the station platform look our for the restored good shed which is now the Quercus Restaurant, sitting on the terrace you are next to the railway lines.

Fiestas

When it comes to festivals, the most outstanding celebrations in Jimera del Líbar take place in August with the annual fair, the patron saint day and a fiesta called the “Chorizada”, which takes place the second Sunday of August. In May there is a pilgrimage (romería) for the Virgen de la Salud (Virgin of Health). At Christmas locals celebrate the “Candelaria”. On the first of November there is a “Tostón” (toast) in honour of All Saint’s Day. And in February there is an enthusiastic “Paseo de las Brujas” (Witches’ Parade) as part of the local carnival celebrations.

Jimera de Líbar is 134 kilometres from Málaga city and just 26 kilometres from Ronda, which is also the capital of its “comarca” (like a county or district). You can reach the town on the train that runs between Algeciras and Bobadilla or by car on the MA-508.

TRAIN

Jimera de Libar train station is on the Algeciras to Ronda railway.  Three stopping trains a navigate the scenic route up the Genal valley over a series of viaducts and through tunnels. A description of the routes and the interesting history can be read about  'Mr Henderson's railway'.

 

Walking guide books by Guy Hunter Watts

Buy walking guide books by Guy Hunter Watts

"Walking in Andalucia" by Guy Hunter Watts

Cicerone 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 - in the Natural Parks of Grazalema, La Alpujarra, Cazorla, Los Alcornocales, Aracena, and La Axarquia. Many of the full and half day walks are virtually unknown even though they are a short drive from the Costa del Sol. Even though more and more people are beginning to walk Spain's southern sierras, most of the routes remain blissfully undiscovered. Guy says, 'If you decide to head for the hills with my guide you can be sure of two things: you will be walking through areas of great natural beauty and you will meet with other walkers.'  
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers Walking in Andalucia.

 

"Coastal walks in Andalucia" by Guy Hunter Watts

Coastal walks  in Andalucia 45 great coastal walks close to Andalucia's Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. Discover the best hiking trails close to Vejer, Caños de Meca, Conil, Tarifa, Bolonia, Gibraltar, Casares, Estepona, Marbella, Istán, Mijas, Benalmádena, Alhaurín, Cómpeta, Fuengirola, Nerja, Maro and Almuñecar. Talk to most people about the coast of Andalucía and they’ll picture the small swathe of seaboard that runs from Torremolinos to Estepona, the heartland of what is commonly sold as the Costa del Sol. First associations are of crowded beaches, busy coastal roads and blocks of holiday apartments. Few amongst them will conjure up visions of the mighty chain of mountains, the tail end of the Sierra Subbética, which rises up a few kilometres back from the sea. Nor do they tend to evoke the wilder beaches of the Costa de la Luz or the footpaths that run just a few metres from the Atlantic surf.
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers Coastal Walks in Andalucia.

 

"The Andalucian coast to coast walk " by Guy Hunter Watts

coast to coast walk A stunning 21 day, 435 kilometre trail that links the Mediterranean with the Atlantic. The walk passes through six of Andalucia's Natural Parks and protected areas via its most beautiful mountain villages. Far more than a long walk, this on-foot odyssey can lead you to the heart of southern Spain's magnificent sierras and on a life-changing journey of discovery. One of the best things about the simple act of walking is the sense of reconnecting with Nature and the Big Wide World. We've been moving around on two feet for a very long time yet still, in the simple act of putting one foot in front of the next and moving across landscape, it seems that we reassert our identity. Day to day worries fall into insignificance, or rather true significance, when we get out into the mountains and walking is about a lot more than taking exercise.
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers The Andalucian Coast-to-coast Walk.

 

"Walking the Mountains of Ronda and Grazalema" by Guy Hunter Watts

Cicerone The dramatically situated town of Ronda can make a great base for a walking holiday in the mountains of Andalucía, as can any one of the picturesque 'pueblos blancos' (white villages) that nestle among the surrounding hills. This guidebook presents 32 mainly circular walks in the Ronda region, covering the town and its environs, the Natural Parks of La Sierra de Grazalema and La Sierra de las Nieves (both UNESCO biosphere reserves), and the Genal and Guadiaro Valleys. Clear route description is illustrated with mapping, and the route summary table and 'at a glance' information boxes make it easy to choose the right walk.
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers Walking the Mountains of Ronda and Grazalema.

 

Jimena de Líbar - Hotels 

Book hotels in Jimena de Líbar

Molino Rodete

Located in Jimera de Líbar, Molino Rodete offers a patio with mountain and pool views, as well as a seasonal outdoor pool, sauna and hot tub. Boasting full-day security, this property also provides guests with an outdoor fireplace.

Molino La Flor

With mountain views, Molino La Flor has accommodation with a kitchen situated in Jimera de Líbar.

A dishwasher and oven are also available, as well as a coffee machine.

The country house offers an outdoor pool.

Molino La Flor has a barbecue and a garden.