As we all know, in Spain exits from motorways and main roads correspond to the distance in kilometres from the start of that road. For example, all roads leading from Madrid start at kilómetro cero.
[Photo courtesy of Diario Sur]
The Carretera de Sevilla (A374) in Andalucía starts at Algodonales (Cádiz) and continues to Ronda (Málaga) at kilómetro 34.
Kilometro 19 is the exit for Montejaque and Cortes de la Frontera and the start of the MA 8403 road. This fascinating route leads us past Venta La Vega, through a cork oak forest, past cornfields and olive groves to the entrance to the El Hundidero cave system, La Presa de los Caballeros, and then on to Montejaque and Benaojan.
Venta la Vega
This is a local landmark, really. Well located on the corner of the main road from Ronda to Sevilla, it's a popular spot for an early morning coffee or breakfast for Spaniards on their way to work.
Later in the day it's popular with visitors to the area, eg walkers, cyclists and motor cyclists.
[Photo courtesy of Trivago]
Cork Oaks
This area of the Serrania de Ronda/Sierra de Grazalema is the home to the cork oak. It's an important industry around here.
The bark is harvested every seven years to a height of some two metres and turned into cork products.
[Photo courtesy of Be The Story]
Wine bottle corks are still used in Spain, but in the UK, Germany and even France they have long since switched to plastic corks or screw-tops, even for top quality wines.
An abomination!
Hayfields
After the road climbs up past the cork oak forests, the land changes and there are flat fields where hay is grown as fodder for the animals that are also reared in the area: sheep, goats, cattle and pigs.
Then it's downhill again through a rocky area which is home to …..
[Photo courtesy of Malaga Hoy]
El Hundidero
An amazing cave system which takes water from up here down to Cueva del Gato, many hundreds of metres lower on the Benaojan Road.
One can only go through with a qualified guide.
Entrance to El Hundidero [Malaga Hoy]
La Presa de los Caballeros
This a dam which was built in 1928 to form a reservoir but the architect got it wrong.
The rocks are sandstone and the water filtered away.
An expensive mistake, to say the least.
At least they've found a way to put it to good use for environmental tourism.
[Photo courtesy of Diario Sur]
Heading uphill again we come to olive groves and pasteur for sheep and goats, and a number of smallholdings.
Olives
Olives grow well around here and produce a significant harvest for eating and also for processing into top quality olive oil.
You can buy "home-made" oil in Montejaque for much cheaper than at the supermarket.
[Photo courtesy of Carbonell]
Montejaque
This village of less than 1000 inhabitants lies at the end of the road. It's a dead end for traffic. Yet it is the most charming of the pueblos blancos of Malaga and Cadiz.
So charming, in fact, that my wife and I each have a house there in the old Arabic part of the village.
Casa Rita with Rita on the roof terrace [K Smallman] Casa Real facade [K Smallman]
Benaojan
Going down the hill from Montejaque on the MA 7401 to Ronda, within minutes you come to Benaojan.
Less pretty than Montejaque, it is, however, a great place to stop for a coffee, breakfast, tapas or lunch.
Both Montejaque and Benaojan are twinned with Knittlingen in Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany).
That link is what brought my German wife to Montejaque over 20 years ago. She used to work in Knittlingen.
[Photo courtesy of Paul Whitelock]
I have visited Knittlingen a number of times. Indeed, Rita and I got married in nearby Maulbronn in 2010.
***
As you continue towards Ronda on the MA 7401 you come to the afore-mentioned Cueva del Gato.
A bit further on is Venta El Puente, another fine watering- and eating-hole.
And then it's back onto the Ronda-Sevilla road.
What a great exit Kilometro 19 turns out to be!
Cueva del Gato [RF Natura]
See also:
Kilómetro 26 - Help me, Ronda
Other Links:
A Stroll through Montejaque - Help me, Ronda
A Walk on the Wild Side – of Montejaque - Eye on Spain
Caminito de los Caballeros - Cueva del Hundidero: 99 fotos - Málaga, España | AllTrails
CASA REAL, Montejaque (Malaga) - Help me, Ronda
Casa Rita Holiday Rental Montejaque - Secret Serrania de Ronda
Early morning coffee in Spain - Secret Serrania de Ronda
La otra ruta de senderismo que compite con el Caminito del Rey como la más vertiginosa de Málaga - Malaga Hoy
Wir sprechen Deutsch in Montejaque! - Eye on Spain
© Pablo de Ronda
With thanks to:
Be The Story, Cadena SER, Diario Sur, Karl Smallman, Málaga Hoy, Paul Whitelock, RF Natura, Secret Serrania, Trivago, www.help-me-ronda.com
Tags:
A374, Algodonales, Andalucía, Be The Story, Benaojan, Cadena SER, Caminito de los Caballeros, Cádiz, Carretera de Sevilla, Cork Oaks, Cornfields, Cortes de la Frontera, Diario Sur, El Hundidero, Eye on Spain, Karl Smallman, Kilometro 19, kilómetro 26, kilómetro 34, kilómetro cero, Málaga, Málaga Hoy, Montejaque, Olives, Presa de los Caballeros, RF Natura, Ronda, Secret Serrania, Trivago, Venta la Vega, www.help-me-ronda.com