El Gastor – the balcony of the Andalusian white villages
Do you visit Gastor to spend a holiday with family or friends? Then, you will surely have something to enjoy. El Gastor is a beautiful whitewashed town. It is located on a hill at the foot of the magnificent Zahara de la Sierra mountain range in the Cadiz region of Andalusia. The white village building contrasts beautifully with the azure, cloudless blue sky and mountainous landscape surrounding the village.
This small town is half an hour’s drive from the nearby, more popular, and the whitewashed village of Ronda.
El Gastor is heaven on a hill. You can make beautiful excursions and relax surrounded by nature. It is also a place to enjoy authentic Spanish cuisine. The temperature remains pleasant all year round.
Therefore, you can visit Gastor at any time of the year. However, the month of major tourist activity in El Gastor is July, followed by June and May. November is the cheapest month as tourists are in no rush.
WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN EL GASTOR
The best things to do and see in Gastor are listed below:
1. Shopping
If you like handmade items, you can buy colorful rugs, jewelry, and beautiful ceramics as gifts for your friends and family. The town offers a wide range of interesting shops where you can stroll and buy colorful items. In addition, you can visit the town market, which is held every Thursday, where many talented and professional local artisans display and sell their unique products.
2. Dining
Another important thing to enjoy in this part of Spain is authentic Spanish cuisine. The area is famous for the production of olives. It is why olives are used in almost all dishes, and you will find them on the menus of Gastor restaurants. The restaurants also serve traditional Andalusian cuisine made from local products.
3. Visit the Zahara- El Gastor Reservoir
You can spend a day with your family or friends in the beautiful panoramic lake Zahara-El Gastor. It is an important site to visit in Gastor. It is a lovely reservoir and has an artificial beach. This is the best place to relax and click pictures. In addition, there is a children’s play area and a beautiful mountainous backdrop.
4. Enjoy a swim in La Playita
La Playita is a recreational area within the beautiful Grazalema Natural Park. It is only a 15-minute drive from Gastor. It is a small lake perfect for relaxing, swimming, rowing, picnicking, and enjoying the beautiful natural landscape of one of the most beautiful parks in Andalusia.
5. Festivals
You can also participate in the big events that take place in June. One of them is Corpus Domini. A religious procession has gone out, and the whole town is adorned. In addition, people decorate their houses and streets. The other event is El Gastor Feria, held the first week of August. It is celebrated for four days with many activities throughout the day. Whole families, including children and adults, come together to celebrate this event.