When you are staying in ANDALUCIA VILLAS Gaucin, like Casares, is yet another Andalucian whitewashed village perched on the rock buttress looking over the stream Guadiaro. At a height of 626 metres it provides a view over the nearby area as far as Gibraltar and Africa. Gaucin is easily the most western region of the Serrania de Ronda, Penibetica. A number of its peaks are over 2,000 meters high and the area is entered by the Genal Guadiaro, or River of Gold as so-known by the pre-Roman occupants, and the Hozgarganta rivers. To the east is the Sierra Bermeja mountain tops with Los Reales as probably the most prominent peak. Towards the south are Casares and the peak of Sierra Crestellina. To the west is the broadening river valley that expands to the flatlands surrounding Gibraltar.
The very first occupants from the Gaucin area were Palaeolithic and Neolithic cave residents and they have left cave paintings nearby. These were used by the Iberians to decorate the ceramics where the castle's water deposits and consequently were removed by the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians established the very first gold mines nearby. The Romans arrived in the region around 400 BC and realized that Gaucin was the simplest path to the interior. They built a road, the Camino de Gibraltar that is still used; in parts is even still intact. Throughout the Roman occupation the very first castle was built although nothing remains of it today.
Within the 5th century Gaucin was overthrown by the Visigoths. They knew the city as Belda. Their occupation lasted two centuries. In 714 AD the Moors invaded and used the Roman streets to get an overwhelming advantage. The Moors renamed Belda to Gauzan and it grew to become the westernmost outpost of the Kingdom of Granada and the site of numerous battles. Gaucin continued to be ruled by the Moors until 1457 when the town was liberated by King Henry IV although a lot of Moors continued to live there until the 16th century.
Because of many rebellions from the Catholic monarchs to the Moors, these were almost constantly at war over the crown and throughout this era lots of people came back to the other agents or grew to become vagrants. Gauzin grew to become depopulated. You will find local tales of Moroccan pirates allying themselves to the Mudejars to kidnap Christians for ransom. Gaucin was associated with the seaside watchtowers created to watch out for these pirates. The Moors were consequently hunted by ex-soldiers and killed maqui berry farmers who offered them into slavery. The region grew to become a lawless "no man's land" until some order was restored at the end of the 17th century.
In 1704 the British took Gibraltar but left Gaucin to its own devices. Through the end of the 1700s, many British Gibraltarians used Gaucin as a summer time resort, benefiting from the cooler mountain air. Then it adopted a turbulent period. In 1808 the French invaded Gaucin and, carrying out a bloody fight, razed the city and stole its treasures. Bandolerismo again reign over the primary occupation. The British occupation of Gibraltar gave a chance for thieves who smuggled British goods into Spain from Gibraltar: a profession that lasts even today.
Gaucin was again sacked during the Carlist wars by the anti monarchists who then enforced heavy taxes around the population. Although unpopular, this did result in a period of comparative stability in the region and British vacationers began to go to their accommodations in Gaucin in bigger numbers. This stability only survived until the Civil War. Lots of people were shot before Gaucin was retaken by the nationalists in 1936. Again the populace was impoverished and switched to banditry and smuggling. Many in Gaucin still haven't forgotten this period.
Around Gaucin and within Los Alcornocales National Park, types of oak, chestnuts, walnuts, St. John's bread (algarrobo), poplars, elms, willows and pines grow by the mile. Within the valleys, the fruit trees range from pomegranate, quince and fig. Herbal treatments like thyme and rosemary oil grow around the crags and also the area is famous for wild flowers.
When staying in ANDALUCIA VILLAS, in a few of the wilder areas you might be lucky to see foxes, wild felines, mongoose, martens, badgers, weasels, moles, porcupines, bats and wild boar which inhabit the countryside around Gaucin. Gaucin is another major point for viewing the migratory wild birds from Africa which have entered the straits and, such as the Romans did, picked the simplest path to the inland areas.
The very first occupants from the Gaucin area were Palaeolithic and Neolithic cave residents and they have left cave paintings nearby. These were used by the Iberians to decorate the ceramics where the castle's water deposits and consequently were removed by the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians established the very first gold mines nearby. The Romans arrived in the region around 400 BC and realized that Gaucin was the simplest path to the interior. They built a road, the Camino de Gibraltar that is still used; in parts is even still intact. Throughout the Roman occupation the very first castle was built although nothing remains of it today.
Within the 5th century Gaucin was overthrown by the Visigoths. They knew the city as Belda. Their occupation lasted two centuries. In 714 AD the Moors invaded and used the Roman streets to get an overwhelming advantage. The Moors renamed Belda to Gauzan and it grew to become the westernmost outpost of the Kingdom of Granada and the site of numerous battles. Gaucin continued to be ruled by the Moors until 1457 when the town was liberated by King Henry IV although a lot of Moors continued to live there until the 16th century.
Because of many rebellions from the Catholic monarchs to the Moors, these were almost constantly at war over the crown and throughout this era lots of people came back to the other agents or grew to become vagrants. Gauzin grew to become depopulated. You will find local tales of Moroccan pirates allying themselves to the Mudejars to kidnap Christians for ransom. Gaucin was associated with the seaside watchtowers created to watch out for these pirates. The Moors were consequently hunted by ex-soldiers and killed maqui berry farmers who offered them into slavery. The region grew to become a lawless "no man's land" until some order was restored at the end of the 17th century.
In 1704 the British took Gibraltar but left Gaucin to its own devices. Through the end of the 1700s, many British Gibraltarians used Gaucin as a summer time resort, benefiting from the cooler mountain air. Then it adopted a turbulent period. In 1808 the French invaded Gaucin and, carrying out a bloody fight, razed the city and stole its treasures. Bandolerismo again reign over the primary occupation. The British occupation of Gibraltar gave a chance for thieves who smuggled British goods into Spain from Gibraltar: a profession that lasts even today.
Gaucin was again sacked during the Carlist wars by the anti monarchists who then enforced heavy taxes around the population. Although unpopular, this did result in a period of comparative stability in the region and British vacationers began to go to their accommodations in Gaucin in bigger numbers. This stability only survived until the Civil War. Lots of people were shot before Gaucin was retaken by the nationalists in 1936. Again the populace was impoverished and switched to banditry and smuggling. Many in Gaucin still haven't forgotten this period.
Around Gaucin and within Los Alcornocales National Park, types of oak, chestnuts, walnuts, St. John's bread (algarrobo), poplars, elms, willows and pines grow by the mile. Within the valleys, the fruit trees range from pomegranate, quince and fig. Herbal treatments like thyme and rosemary oil grow around the crags and also the area is famous for wild flowers.
When staying in ANDALUCIA VILLAS, in a few of the wilder areas you might be lucky to see foxes, wild felines, mongoose, martens, badgers, weasels, moles, porcupines, bats and wild boar which inhabit the countryside around Gaucin. Gaucin is another major point for viewing the migratory wild birds from Africa which have entered the straits and, such as the Romans did, picked the simplest path to the inland areas.
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