Casares properties
Exploring Casares
With such a rich and interesting history, there are plenty of places to explore in and around Casares.
You can easily spend many days dedicated to walking the town’s winding streets and visiting the numerous historic buildings. Or maybe you just want to climb up to one of the numerous vantage points and enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and countryside.
When you get to Casares it is a good idea to park your car close to one of the restaurants at the edge of the town. Here you can prepare for the walk around Casares' hilly streets. Park the car either here or by one of the other bars a little further on and climb down one of the footpaths that lead into the village. It is unwise to try and park in the village itself as the streets are very narrow and there are few places available.
If, like many others, it is the views in particular that you have come to Casares for, then you should follow the street that runs off the Virgin del Rosario chapel. This is a very steep path and you need to continue following it up to the very top. When you reach the summit you will be around 1400 feet above sea level and the views are truly spectacular. At the top you will come across a derelict church and the remains of an old fortress and you will have a panoramic view of the town and the surrounding areas. Peregrine falcons and kestrels can often be seen circling above the highest points of Casares and on a clear day you will be able to make out the breathtaking sight of the Rock of Gibraltar and North Africa in the distance.
Once you have taken in the views then you can make your way back down the hill and over to the main square – the Plaza de Espana. The square has become something of a focal point in recent years and a number of pavement cafes and bars have sprung up to service the tourist market as well as the local residents. One of the café bars has a wonderful rooftop terrace where you can observe village life at close quarters.
Visitors who have come to Casares to see the remains of the old castle should head uphill to the top of the village where there are two separate entrances to the fortifications and the complex surrounding the remains. One is accessible through Calle Villa and the other through the Arrabal arch. The base of the castle walls dates back to Moorish times but the structures above are more recent.
Inside the castle complex you will find the Church of the Encarnation, called Iglesia de la Encarnation, which dates back to 1505. The church was used for service up until around 1845. It was badly damaged during the Spanish Civil War and nowadays the church building is locked up and undergoing restoration although its cemetery is still used by the village.
