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Spain - Route 6 - The old road to Montejaque (the messenger's route).

Zuz
2006-02-16 19:55:24

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Introduction
This road, used before motor vehicles existed, was last extensively used by the Corsarios who carried news and messages between Ronda and the surrounding villages. The last two of these men being from Montejaque itself.

Description
We leave Ronda from the "Dehesa" district, and follow the path described in route nº 5 up to where it enters the Grazalema Natural Park.

We take the path ascending to Mures hill which veers left passing at a distance behind the farmhouse Cortijo Grande. These lands once grew wheat and were at one time famous hunting grounds for turtle doves. Here we find optional departure point 1 joining route 7 in this guide.

This old way was recovered a few years ago by the department for the environment and is now indicated as G.R.7 with signposts to show the way. The path is easy and well marked rising for 4 Km.

Fields of cereals give way to olive groves, on the right is the farmhouse La Estacá and on the left an old oil press that is being restored for rural tourist accommodation. This old mill used a waterwheel driven by an occasional but fierce torrent.

As we ascend the olive trees peter out and we are in shrubland with wild asparagus growing here and there between the limestone rocks.

At the end of the climb we find a tiny hamlet and the Milagro cross. Here we have a splendid view of Ronda. A bit further on is the hermitage of the virgin "La Escariguela". According to legend the statue that is worshipped here was once taken to Ronda to cure the plague. When the people of Ronda took it back to the hermitage they had second thoughts and decided to return it to Ronda to work future miracles. When they reached the Milagro cross however the statue would move no further and they had to abandon their plan.

A cobbled footpath leaves the hermitage zig zagging down to the road. The village is now less than 1 Km. away. The beauty of the countryside around Montejaque ...