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Zahora Andalusia - Part 2 - 7 tips for trips around Zahora by bike or on foot?

We are stayed in the beautiful town of Zahora for 5 weeks and would like to do all activities by bike or on foot as far as possible, i.e. only explore the surrounding area.


1.) CONIL DE LA FRONTERA / Biketour

The first destination is what probably all guests aim for from Zahora, Conil de la Frontera. The developed cycle path there makes the leisurely tour with approx. 12 km each way, no problem even in windy conditions. Only at the end of the route is there a slight hill up to Conil and you are right in the center of town.


Conil is manageable and is one of the 4 most famous white villages in Andalusia and is a chosen destination for sun and beach lovers. With an impressive 14km of beach, this white village proudly faces the Atlantic. Historically it is said that around 1200 BC. discovered their passion for red tuna meat here and brought it to the market. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Arabs therefore also showed a keen interest in this flourishing good location. Some structural fragments have been preserved in the village. Find more history here: https://conil.costasur.com/de/historia.html

Along the Costa Vasca, people are generally very proud of the good water quality and show it with a blue flag on the beach.

This flag is awarded annually by the European Foundation for Environmental Education to beaches and ports that have met a number of requirements. Four criteria: quality of bathing water, information and education about the environment for bathers and users, environmental management, safety and existing services and facilities.”

The inner city of Conil is small and can be walked through quickly. For us it wasn't that attractive either, so we only went down to the beach for a short time. Especially at low tide in the late afternoon the river inlet into the sea is very worth seeing. Small crabs race under the bridge, groups of fish are waiting for the tide to return and pedestrians can now cross the Rio Salado on foot to wade to the adjacent bio-reserve. But we still have plans:

Conil de la Frontera has a lot to tell, maybe you should better prepare yourself: https://www.andalusien.de/staedte/conil-de-la-frontera.html


On a flyer we had discovered a winery and olive farmer near Conil, we wanted to drive past there.


The Bodega Sanchez Perez is known for organic wine and olive cultivation.

Once again a very rocky, dusty rustic country road awaited us towards the estate. We had actually imagined something different, perhaps due to previous visits to our wine growers in Germany. It is a simple bodega with a small production and sales building. But the most important thing are the vineyards and various olive trees and this reflected the farm, which one wishes for an organic farmer, originality and authenticity. This was not a place that dresses up for tourists. Guided tours are offered in Spanish and English, but actually everything shifts to the bodega: https://sanchaperez.com

2.) TURM VON MEKKA – BARBATE / hike

Variety, today we hike. Directly behind our campsite is an access to the huge natural park La Breña y Marismas del Barbate. A mixed pine forest on sandy soil. Many small pad paths lead through the forest and you have to keep the rough orientation in order not to get lost here. We have orientated ourselves on the left side of the fence that separates individual fincas and pastures from the forest. After a while we cross a through road (Av. Trafalgar) and have to walk uphill. Once at the top, we take the path on the right, which is signposted for the first time with a hiking sign Sendero; about half a kilometer to go. The tower doesn't offer much, not even a clear view, you have to look for it a bit on the slope.


That's right, we're on a hillside overlooking Canos de Meca with the Trafalgar Lighthouse. I'll read up on the tower later. There are a number of these lookout towers from the 16th and 17th centuries on the coast. Century. Installed as an alarm system, they were primarily intended to warn against the Berber pirates who were very active here at the time.


To this end, the tower guards fired as many flaming arrows at night as they saw attacking pirate ships. In order to increase communication between the Tagus Tower and the Trafalgar Tower, the Meca Tower was built a little further from the seafront, thus facilitating communication between the two main towers. The internet says that the tower can be visited, but it didn't look like it to us. There was no notice of it either.

We meet a local cyclist who advised us on the way down, either down the slope or hike back. There is no turning back for us, then down the sandy slope. With a pound of sand a shoe, we made it down Av. Trafalgar in Canos de Meca. Our now favorite bar is now not far away, a nice end to a Beer with a view of the sea.

The OHANA BAR

But we were fascinated by the Caribbean flair of the Ohana bar: www.ohanaloscanos.com, we sit here and watch the new waves on the long, fine sandy beach again and again and enjoy the chilled-out beach atmosphere. A nice stop after a walk from the campsite to the beach, left through the beach to the lighthouse, via the bar back to the main road A-2233 (on the very well laid out cycle-pedestrian path) about 2km back to Zahora.


3.) priv. CHICLANA FLEA MARKET – meeting of German emigrants / car

We found our guide for the tour of Cadiz and were promptly invited to a private flea market. In the meantime already a permanent institution in Chiclana and a nice opportunity to meet again, that's how I got the impression. Many German emigrants already live in the town itself, and they all went on a tour with Jürgen at some point. And since Jürgen is a true networker, he installed this flea market twice a year on his private property, once in spring and once in autumn. You come by and bring the cake to sell, great.

I love the flea market and found what I was looking for right away, actually we don't have any more space in our Wowa. Please make a note of Jürgen Karner's address, maybe you can visit him privately when he's dawdling >> Facebook/Jürgen Karner


4.) VEYER DE LA FRONTERA / Radtour

A bike tour to one of the most beautiful cities in Andalusia was planned.


The route is easy to do up to the mountain, only the last stage up to the village is difficult and very steep. Stefan did it again sovereign. I had to push up the last kilometer and that on a busy road. Not so ideal - maybe it's better to go there by car.


Once at the top, a spacious terrace view opens up over the entire valley. Only now do we realize how hilly the hinterland of Andalusia is. The city is magical and the many small streets are really what you wish for. Today we let ourselves drift through the town and through the photo opportunities without a guide. At the Plaza de España we treat ourselves to a cappuccino and enjoy the palm-lined square. Where the magnificent fountain with tiles from Seville is now enthroned, bullfights are said to have taken place, no longer imaginable. The social gatherings of the older residents in the cafes, with coffee and lots of words, are nice to watch. Vejer is surrounded by a city wall. We walk through some of the surviving seashell watchtowers and city gates, which contrast nicely with the whitewashed houses.

We push our bikes over to Neustadt and want to start the return journey. We noticed the many women in strikingly colorful flamenco dresses, all heading in one direction, towards a festival area. The spring festival week of Veyer the FERIA DE PRIMAVERA DE VEJER 2023 started today. For a week in April, the place is in a party mood and people traditionally dress up for it, but especially the ladies. We witnessed the opening of the livestock exhibition by the mayor and then also visited the animals in the big tent, but with mixed feelings.

The way back with the beginning of the evening sun was another highlight. No, we wouldn't have made it up this path with our bikes without electricity. But the view to the left and right into the far hinterland to the coast was beautiful again.

Recommendation: Yes, but think about it beforehand if you have a bike, otherwise a great city that we might visit again. Do I have to push again?


History of Veyer compact:

Arabic architecture has been preserved in the place. Vejer is one of the oldest civilizations in southern Europe. The unique location on the mountain gave them a good defensive position against the Iberians from the interior. The well-thriving trade route with the tuna fisheries on the coasts, such as with Conil, had to be protected. The turbulent struggle for the places left traces and so Veyer adorns itself after its respective conquests with Muslim and Christian heritage.


Residents were constantly threatened by border threats. For this reason, some concessions were made to them by the Spanish Crown and a number of privileges were granted, including the enjoyment and free use of land, water, mountains, wells. To honor this time, the suffix de la Frontera (“on the border”) has remained, which we can recognize in many place names here, Conil de la Frontera, Jerez de la Frontera, Chiclana de la Frontera and Veyer de la Frontera. The suffix was given to the municipality located on the border of the territory of the Kingdom of León during the León and Castilian times.


Manuel from Hanover offers a German tour: http://vejer-by-manuel.com


Round trip our important tip! According to Google, we were offered two routes. We recommend the A-2230 on the country road for the outward journey, unfortunately without a cycle path. The village lies on a high plateau at an altitude of 205 meters with a few hills up to it and it has proven useful to choose the asphalt road for the outward journey. Distance 13.2bkm, with the last 3km going really steep uphill.


The return trip was mostly downhill and that's adventurous enough on the rural road Av-de Buenavista. The road is dusty, rocky and has many potholes and bumps. But you have a fantastic view to the coast over meadows, fields, pastures, very picturesque.


5.) ZUM COOLEN STRAND NACH EL PALMAR / Biketour

It is only a short detour to the neighboring beach "El Palmar", a beach that is well-known and popular with surfers. There is a small beach street with a little promenade flair. Cool surf schools line the street with colorful beach bars. We have chosen a cafe-bar for us El Cartero, the COFFEE costs €2.00 and is excellent with a view of the hustle and bustle on the beach, there is a lot to see.


In summer the 8 km long, golden, fine sandy beach is popular with surfing beginners, the tides are a little softer and the waves are a little lower here than in autumn. As along the entire coast, the water here is very clean and shallow, which is why it is also ideal for swimming. The beach is monitored in parts and is therefore also ideal for families with children.


A wooden walkway crosses a system of dunes to get to the beach. This protected area is particularly important and can be seen along the coast, intended to preserve the natural sand reserve. They are particularly proud of the well-kept beaches, and every visitor is encouraged to take part. Unfortunately, with the start of the season and the nightlife in El Palmar, the garbage on the roadsides and in the dunes also increases. I always don't like to understand that. Celebrating and being in a good mood shouldn't make you so foggy, respect your surroundings and clean up your rubbish.

In the evening, the beach bars become open-air discos and attract young people from far and wide, even from Cadiz to party.

How do I get there?

We start at the campsite in Zahora on the great bike path of the A-2233 to the 4th roundabout and turn left to Playa El Palmar in the Carr. de la Playa to the beach. If you now drive the street to the right to the end, it is a dead end and stops just before Conil. (No driving possibility further to Conil). So first back to the middle, we suggest driving on to the end of the village, then left to the end of the P.Maritimo road, then left up the somewhat unpaved road to the end, further right on an agricultural path through the wheat fields through to drive to the end and then return to the A-2233.


6.) DIE VERGESSENE KIRCHE SAN AMBRIOSIO / Bikeour


The early Christian Basilica of San Ambrosio is hidden outside of Zahora and overgrown in the wild rugged hinterland. The route for from the A-2233 at the BARBATE roundabout into Carr. Drive Arroyo San Ambrosio to the end, then turn right onto Av. De Buenavista. A dusty rocky country road with many potholes; but which is also heavily frequented.


We had chosen this nearby small excursion destination and the pictures, as on some websites for the presented church, promised a lot:


Unfortunately, the small church with four pointed arches could no longer be seen. Nature has recaptured the building vigorously. We were already wondering. It is not entirely clear when this attraction was abandoned again. According to the websites, the restoration was only in 2004, meanwhile the building belongs again to the Diocese of Cadiz and Ceuta.

Sorry, the question remains again. Who paid it? We don't want to give a tip here. Almost too long as a hiking trail, very difficult to drive on as a cycle path. But the views to the left and right go far inland and enrich the tour a little.


7.) CONIL DE LA FRONTERA – buntes Markttreiben /Biketour


A huge laundry market is also set up in Conil every Friday, with over 150 stands. We've noticed this in other places and this time we wanted to take a closer look. Several rows with everything the laundry has to offer; Underwear, (bras without end!) nightwear, bed linen, table linen, plastic blankets, curtain fabrics, ready-made decorative scarves, bath linen, children's clothing, shoes of all kinds, textiles in general from normal prices to baby table prices from €2. In between, something whimsical, open presentations with olives, sweets and nuts. You should stroll through it once. A later price comparison in the local boutiques shows that we can find many items again and are only slightly more expensive. The shop is open daily and arranges the goods in an appealing way. You don't have to understand that.































 
 
 

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