Benalup-Casas Viejas

Benalup-Casas Viejas has 6,347 inhabitants known as “Benalupenses”. The town is spread over a hill called “Loma de las Grullas” (Cranes Hill), probably due its proximity to the Lake Janda , which used to be home to many cranes, among other species.

The town is situated in a magnificent position in the south of the Province and is also the geographical centre of the region known as La Janda.

Its name is said to come from the Arabic Ben Alup tower, proof of the influence left by the Moorish invasion of 711. In the autumn of 1264, Alfonso X “The Wise” conquered these lands for the Christians. It went into a period of decline with the Moors had departed and its population steadily fell. The few inhabitants that remained moved into the castle due to its strategic position. Two years earlier the town had returned to its old name of Casas Viejas. The hopes of the local people were placed on a Republic victory, but when this did not occur, disillusioned anarchists decided to mount their own revolution and introduce a communist regime into the town. The Guardia Civil went immediately to the house where the rebels were based and set fire to it. However, the repression did not end there and on numerous occasions, people suspected in being involved in the anarchists' initiative faced the firing squad.

However, the town would recover after this decline. The most important and tragic moment throughout Benalup's history occurred during the II Republic in 1933.

El turismo ornitológico en el Parque Natural de los Alcornocales es extraordinario. Su excepcional valor ornitológico y su ubicación estratégica, formando parte del área del Estrecho de Gibraltar y cercana a Espacios Naturales protegidos como los Parajes Naturales de la Playa de los Lances (Tarifa), estuario del río Palmones y estuario del río Guadiaro, así como la antigua laguna de la Janda, suponen un atractivo para una gran clientela.

Fuente: www. benalupcasasviejas.es/

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Sol Recomend:

- Hotel Utopía: UTOPÍA is more than a hotel, more than a hostelry and more than a museum; Utopía is a town within a town. Evoking the 30’s and located among patios, gardens and terraces facing the “Alcornocales” nature reserve.

- Hotel Fairplay Golf & Spa Hotel: Ideally situated between Medina Sidonia and Vejer de la Frontera, within easy reach of the Alcornocles Natural Park, the unspoilt beaches of the Atlantic Coast and the exclusive golfing region of the Mediterranean.

The Cueva del Tajo de las Figuras, located near the town of Benalup-Casas Viejas, belongs to the group of paleolithic and neolithic sites in southern Spain that have examples of rock art that the Spanish call "art sureño. The paintings are mostly representations of birds and odd four-footed man-like figures dating from neolithic times. Near the Cueva del Tajo de las Figuras was the ancient Laguna de la Janda, a haven where millions of birds, both resident and migratory species, found a suitable habitat for feeding and reproduction.

GOLF

Benalup Golf & Country Club 18 holes GOLF COURSE, PAR 73, designed by Baron Paúl Rolin. The course itself is an interesting mix of well-designed holes effectively using the contours of the natural terrain. TerraCottem soil conditioner has been incorporated into the root zone of the entire course and this leads to a 50% reduction in the need to water the course - a great benefit in these days of over-watering! The usual facilities of driving range, putting and chipping greens pro-shop and caddy master are also available.

Monuments

The most interesting are:

- The Morita or Benalup Tower . Marvellous views over La Janda can be enjoyed from the top of the tower.

- The Church of Nuestra Señora del Socorro .

- El Cuervo Monastery. Also known as the “Las Carmelitas” (the Carmelites). 18 th Century.