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Points of interest in Vejer de la Frontera

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Divino Salvador Parish Church

Built over a former mosque, it is a basilica church with a rectangular apse and three naves, the central one being higher than the lateral ones. The architectural ensemble consists of two perfectly differentiated parts that correspond to two stages of its construction: The Gothic Mudejar chevet of the 14th century is composed of rectangular and robust pillars on which the pointed arches rest, covered by a vault with central ribs. In the side naves there are three chapels that house religious images highlighting the Gothic Crucified and the figure of the Nazarene. The Late Gothic extension of the late fifteenth century is formed by four sections separated by pillars of great height giving a great luminosity to the church that contrasts with the darkness of the Mudejar construction. We also highlight the altarpiece of the High Altar (XVII century) made by the master Francisco de Villegas in the seventeenth century executed in cedar and borne. We also highlight a beautiful front of Mudejar ceramics. Visiting hours: Consult schedule: 956 45 00 56

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La Cobijada: the traditional women's dress

The so-called COBIJADA costume has aroused the curiosity of European artists and writers since the last century, that is, since Romanticism made Travel Books fashionable. The Romantics immediately associated it with a rare Moorish vestige that had been preserved, as if dormant, in some Andalusian villages, including Vejer, Marchena and Tarifa. The reality seems simpler, if we observe that the costume of the Castilian woman of the SS. XVI and XVII centuries receives the same name as the vejeriego female dress, "traje de manto y saya", and that in the documents of the XVI to XIX centuries, uninterruptedly, the vejeriegas continue calling the dress with the name of the pieces that compose it, the mantle and the saya. It is possible, however, that the vejeriego veil, common to Castilian women, had its origin in ancient customs and customs, related to the clothing of women in the Arab world and the Mediterranean world, in general. The costume of cloak and sackcloth, forbidden many times, first, by the Austrians, in the XVII century, and later by the Bourbons, in the SS. XVIII and XIX, continued to be preserved in manor towns, such as Vejer, distant from the Court and dependent on regional authorities who turned a blind eye on costumes and popular customs. In the late nineteenth century, the use of the cobijado in Vejer was a unique case that aroused the imagination of visitors, hunting for oriental concomitances. The cobijado was definitely banned by the Republic in 1936, fearing that the costume served to mask crimes and allow the offender to escape. Although in 1937 the parish priest, Fr. Ángel, asked the local authorities to allow its use, the circumstances of the war did not make it advisable. When an attempt was made to recover the custom, in the mid-forties, there was hardly anyone in Vejer who had the complete costume of cloak and sackcloth with its very wide petticoats: the post-war shortage had forced many women to take the costume apart and turn it into street or home clothes, instead of keeping it in the closet. Nowadays the Cobijado has become a festive costume. In the Fiestas Patronales the Cobijada Mayor and her court of ladies are elected. Likewise, the Cobijada Infantil is chosen with her retinue of girls cobijadas.

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Vejer Castle

It dates from the tenth and eleventh centuries, at the time of Abderramán I and successors. It is located in the highest part, and possibly the oldest inhabited area of Vejer, on the basis of a previous one from the Arab period. It consists of two courtyards: the main courtyard where the old cistern is located, which collected rainwater through a channel. The floor of the castle is herringbone-shaped, to prevent the animals in the stables from slipping. From the parade ground you can see the battlements, access them and see beautiful views of the whole village. In this courtyard is the private house that was transformed by Pedro Muñoz de Arenillas in the second half of the 14th century, which was bought from the Marquis of Martorell. In the 14th century it was the residence of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia, lord of Vejer. It is included in the group of "minor castles" because it has only one entrance and exit gate placed in the most accessible and easily defended point. The horseshoe door framed in an alfiz is the most appreciated vestige of Arab origin that is still preserved. Inside the castle you can see a plaque commemorating the twinning of Vejer and Chef-Chauen. Both cities are closely linked for historical and cultural reasons. THE CASTLE WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC EVERY WEEKEND AND HOLIDAYS Vejer Castle, recently renovated, will be open to the public every weekend and holidays. From the Municipal Delegations of Tourism and Heritage has been coordinated with the Vejer Scout Group the opening and they will be the ones in charge. They have been doing for years tourist routes and guided tours in the Castle. The Scout Group returns to the Castle with a completely renovated facilities, provided by the City Council.

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Walled enclosure

The Walled Enclosure of Vejer represents an irregular polygon of six sides, with the first flank corresponding to the north, the second side to the west, the third flank to the south and the fourth, fifth and sixth sides to the east. The primitive fence had four gates, all with straight entrances. On the north side, the wall extends from the bastion and gate of Sancho IV, passes through the tower of the Corredera and reaches the cylindrical tower of the Corredera that connects with the bastion of the Segur. The western flank starts from the bastion of the Segur, continues through the Barbican and reaches Puerta Cerrada. The south side runs from Puerta Cerrada to the next tower between Encarnación and San Juan streets. The eastern side extends to the Puerta de la Villa where it turns towards the tower of the Mayorazgo and ends at the bastion of Sancho IV. The fence has a perimeter of about two kilometers and an area of about four hectares. The walls are about two meters thick, increasing considerably at the gates. They are made of stones and ashlars joined by lime and sand mortar. In some stretches of wall there is regular work based on ashlars. This can be seen in the upper part of the Puerta Cerrada wall. Possibly it is due to the consolidation of the fence or restoration of the last third of the 15th century. The facing of towers and walls must have been primitively plastered and rendered. In a test pit opened in an excavation carried out in Juan Bueno Street, the wall appears stuccoed at a level of 1.60 m deep, the level of the primitive street outside the walls. The Walled Enclosure preserves the 4 original access doors: Arch of the Segur, Arch of Puerta Cerrada, Arch of the Villa and Arch of Sancho IV.

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Plaza de España

It has its origins in the sixteenth century when the city overflows the walled enclosure. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was the place for the celebration of the various bullfighting festivals on the initiative of the noblemen and gentlemen of Vejer amount. The square of Spain is an urban set in which a great oval that comes to occupy almost all the public space, circumvented by a narrow road for the circulation of vehicles stands out. This oval, raised on a base of masonry, allows to level the interior enclosure of the square in which they emphasize the fountain that occupies the central space, and the banks that surround it. The fountain dates from 1955 built in masonry of exposed brick and ceramics from the Sevillian workshops of Santa Ana, following the model of the fountain of the Plaza Alta of Algeciras, also from the same period, from this date it is popularly known as Pl. de los Pescaítos. The benches are made of brick masonry with ceramic decoration, artificial stone and iron forging. The flooring, following the model of the time, was composed of slabs that matched the color of the brick.

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Santa Lucia Aqueduct

It is a water conduction system from the 16th century, possibly built by reusing materials from a previous older one, becoming one of its most emblematic symbols. Next to it there are 7 water mills of the XVI century that were used to grind wheat and obtain flour of which today we conserve some pieces, such as the water pipes, vaults, remains of the buckets and some millstones. In this century these mills were owned by the Dukes of Medina Sidonia who charged a rent for their use. At the beginning of the 20th century the Count of Villariezo inherited Santa Lucia from the ducal house and created an electric company, which supplied electricity and water to the population of Vejer, becoming one of the first cities to have other services in private homes. Today this company belongs to the Sevillana company. The state of conservation of the sections that have been located is very uneven: some have all its elements in perfect condition; others are missing the channel, leaving only the wall standing; other sections are fallen on the bed of the stream; in other parts seems to have disappeared all vestige. The Rural Nucleus of Santa Lucia has been declared a Natural Monument because of the richness of the landscape. Santa Lucia has an exuberant vegetation, due to the richness of the soil and the quantity of existing water, since it is located on the slope of the Muela Plateau.

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Puerta de la Villa

The one known as Puerta o Arco de la villa must not have been the main gate of the fortress until well into the 16th century. In the late Middle Ages and in the Muslim period it may have corresponded to the so-called "almocaber gate" or cemetery gate. Indeed, on the slope outside the gate and wall (today the slope of the Town Hall) have been found in the successive works of repair of the road numerous tombs well aligned towards the east. This gate of the fortress acquired importance from the XVI century with the expansion of the population and with the incorporation of the square to social uses such as military parades or parades and become a place for walking and recreation. The present arch does not correspond to the primitive one, existing until the middle of the fifties of the last century. The primitive gate was the least slender and the poorest of the existing gates, both for its materials and for its deterioration and semi-ruined appearance. On the arch it was allowed in the middle of the XIX century to build a room that at the present time connects with the adjoining house. In the decade of the fifties of the XX century a deep reform of the Arch was carried out that, besides hiding the primitive door, extends the width of wall with masonry and it is given a regular bearing, in agreement with the criteria of the time. It could be estimated that the state of conservation is good in the current conditions. But it is certainly not the primitive arch. Although it is not possible to think of a return to the arch of the forties of the last century, a restoration work could be undertaken to eliminate the masonry that covers the original elements and the replacement of pieces and elements similar to the other doors of the enclosure. Although the Puerta de la Villa is public, the existing room over the arch is private.

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Sancho IV Gate

The door of Sancho IV, known as the arch of Naveda in past centuries, is perhaps the oldest door in the Vejeriega wall (SS. XIV-XV). Built with regular ashlar masonry, it has a semicircular arch with a collarino or bocel at the beginning. The base is built in the same sandstone rock. The initial unevenness with the street Corredera was of four or five meters of height, which demonstrates the inaccessibility of the vejeriega fence in its historical epoch. Today the arch of Sancho IV has been uncovered in its foundations by almost two meters as a result of the lowering of the slope that descends to Corredera Street, which in turn has raised the level of the original street. In 1973, the walls were cleaned, a blind arch was built over the gate to obtain the level of the parapet and walkway, and the battlements were replaced. Subsequently, the City Council obtained a small property adjoining the Arco de Sancho IV complex (a concession from the Castrillón family) and embellished this urban enclave.

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Closed Door

Also called Puerta de la Barbería (Barber's Gate). Located on the southern flank of the Walled Enclosure, as its name indicates, this gate must have been walled up for centuries because of the serious danger it posed, since it gave access to the road that led to the sea. The well-known Puerta Cerrada is located in the neighborhood of the Jewish quarter and in front of the Almaraz ravine. From the height of the small tower that served as access to the parapet and the coastal walkway, the Atlantic coast and the marshes of Barbate could be seen. These two factors, the Jewish quarter and its proximity to the coast could have determined the closure of this gate from the end of the Middle Ages until well into the 18th century. Indeed, the possible coalition of Jews with Muslims from beyond aroused fear in coastal towns that resulted in measures of this kind. It seems that at the end of the 17th century an arch was opened in the wall of Judería street to connect with Juan Bueno street, known as Arco de Santa Catalina, recently restored. In the rehabilitation campaign of the historic center, in 1977, the remains of the door were discovered, the beginning of the entrance arch was restored and its existence was made evident in the pavement. A semicircular brick arch was replaced, which testifies to the original closed doorway. At the time, the architect in charge of the rehabilitation stated the possibility of demolishing a small room that served as a stable in front of the Puerta Cerrada, leaving this space free as it should be in its original state. Crossing the Arch of Puerta Cerrada or the Barbería you will find the viewpoint and the statue of the Cobijada.

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Arcos de las Monjas

They are a succession of four semicircular arches made of masonry and brick cladding that cross the Judería street perpendicularly and are supported by the wall of the Iglesia de la Concepción (Church of the Conception). Although today they represent one of the most beautiful street patterns in Vejer, they never had a decorative or ornamental function. They were built towards the end of the decade of the seventies of the XVIII century as buttresses of the south wall and of the vault of the Church of the Conception, that experienced important fissures and threatened ruin as a consequence of the earthquake of 1773. The nuns' arches have been captured countless times by photographers and painters. It is worth mentioning "Las cobijadas" by the painter Francisco Prieto, whose scenario is the Conceptionist convent and the nuns' arches. It has been restored at the end of the nineties of the last century. It has integral protection.

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Viewpoints

Walking through the streets of Vejer we can find 6 viewpoints, from which we can visualize several different perspectives of the municipality. Mirador de la Corredera: From the viewpoint of the Corredera we can see the inner part of the Janda surrounded by green countryside, we can see municipalities such as Medina Sidonia, Alcalá de los Gazules. Viewpoint of the Santo: From the viewpoint of the Holy one of the highest places in Vejer, we can see the coast of the municipality, the beach of El Palmar, Conil and rural areas such as Santa Lucia and La Muela, we can see the historic center of Vejer, as well as part of the new area. Viewpoint Paseo de las Cobijadas: It is located in the historic center of Vejer, from there we can see on clear days the African Continent, the beaches of Zahara de los Atunes and Barbate, the marshes of Barbate and even the Natural Park. Mirador de la Cobijada: Next to the monument of the Cobijada is the viewpoint, from there we can contemplate a good panoramic view of the modern part of Vejer, a perspective opposite to the viewpoint of the Plaza Nelson Mandela. Viewpoint Nelson Mandela: Where we can visualize one of the best views of the old part, as well as the different monuments of interest of the locality, it is one of the most recent that we can find. Mirador Rincón de Lectura: The most recent viewpoint that we can visit, from which we can see the historic center of Vejer, privileged views that we can enjoy sitting on one of the benches reading a book.

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Flour Windmills

Nothing identifies the image of Vejer more than the silhouette of a windmill. In the 19th century, the flour mills that existed in Vejer were all water mills, among which the ones owned by the Duke in the hamlet of Santa Lucía stand out. It was with the advent of the liberal regime when the first windmills were built in the town of Vejer. After a long tradition of water mills, the construction of windmills began. It was not the first time that the "Manchego" windmills were tried to be more efficient but the strong winds in the area made it impossible to implement them. The success came with the implementation of the "Carthaginian" windmills, which had a more robust body than the "Manchego" windmills, so that they were more resistant to the strong winds and were also more powerful than the watermills. In the sixties seven mills were built, five of them located in the San Miguel neighborhood, currently Hazas de la Suerte Municipal Park, of which three have been preserved and are now restored (San José, San Francisco, San Antonio). We leave the Hazas de la Suerte Municipal Park towards Buenavista Avenue and the military road to see the four remaining mills located on the west side of Vejer: Molino de Morillo, we continue along Miramundo Street and soon we arrive at the Molino de Márquez, Molino de San Inés or Molino del Conde and Molino de la Cruz de Conil. Currently you can visit (on request) the interior of the San Francisco Mill where you can see the pieces of its old machinery.

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Municipal Museum of Traditions and Customs

The Municipal Museum of Traditions and Customs of Vejer, located in the Convent of the Conceptionist Nuns, hosts an exhibition of our recent history. The visitor will be able to perceive the ways of life of the vejeriegos of the last century by means of a collection of implements and tools related to the labors of the field and old trades. Also, you can learn about such deep-rooted customs as the evolution of the old huts of chestnut straw or know the climate that was experienced in the traditional "pig slaughter". More information: 956 553 399 / www.vejerdelafrontera.es / www.turismovejer.es Every Thursday open house.

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Museum Collection of Archaeology and History

Located in the former Casa Palacio Marqués de Tamarón, built in the eighteenth century, this recently created museum space contains 13 rooms, where a sample of archaeological collections are exhibited to learn about the historical evolution of the municipality from the Paleolithic to the present day. It also has rooms of fine arts, where the Julia Relinque collection stands out. The building itself, renovated a few years ago, is worth a visit. It has a trapezoidal floor plan that contrasts with the harmonious Neoclassical façade. The façade of the first floor and mezzanine is formed by a series of attached pilasters that frame the openings of the façade and of the cantilevered windows. A cornice separates the upper body, which has a central balcony over the doors and windows. The grillwork adds harmony to the set of openings and blind walls. It is accessed through a hallway to a courtyard composed of four semicircular arches resting on four columns. Its central palm tree, a common indoor Kentia, planted in 1879, exceeds the height of the building. More information: 956 553 399 / www.vejerdelafrontera.es / www.turismovejer.es

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Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Oliva

Located on the Vejer-Barbate road, 5 km from Vejer. In this chapel you can see the Patron Saint of Vejer, the Virgen de la Oliva. This place was formerly a Roman villa and later in the Visigothic period s. Therefore, the Ermita de la Oliva is built on the site of that basilica, according to epigraphic sources. In it there is a funerary monument with pagan inscription that contains bone remains and ashes of the protomartyr Esteban, the martyr saints Servando and Germán from Cadiz and the Sevillian saints Justa and Rufina. The carving of the Virgin of the Olive is made by the Sevillian sculptor Martín Alonso de Mesa in 1596. It is made of safe pine (wood very used during this time), stewed and polychrome. It carries the child on the left side, while, on the arm, it holds an olive branch, taking up the oldest tradition. The tunic is also gathered on the same side with simple folds, which fall heavily and tend to widen the figure downward, so that the feet briefly peek out. This place becomes a must for all pilgrims on May 7, when a pilgrimage is held to commemorate the commemoration of the Virgen de la Oliva as Patron Saint of Vejer. For more information, tel. 956 450 056 / https://www.facebook.com/parroquiadivinosalvadorvejer

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Segur Gate

This door belonging to the defensive set of the bastion of the Segur must have been built or deeply restored between 1475-1480 by the second Duke of Medina Sidonia D. Enrique de Guzmán. It was known until the 17th century as the Puerta de la Villa, since during the medieval and early modern centuries it must have been the main gate of the walled enclosure. The gate is more than three meters thick and is reinforced by the cylindrical tower of the slide on the north side and by a small square tower on the south side. From inside the Joplin Bar, one can still see the stairway (now truncated) that led to the parapet and the chamber of the cylindrical tower of the Corredera, which must have been at the same level. From this level of the parapet, the walkway connected, through a stairway whose stone steps of Gothic design are visible on the west side, with the small square tower that frames and defends the Puerta de la Segur. On the east side the door, with a semicircular arch in its origin, had an alfiz carved in the stone with a symmetrical composition of symbols and coats of arms. On the left side, between the alfiz and the arch, there is the coat of arms of the Mendoza family and above it a segur (from which the name of the door derives). On the right side (today disappeared or buried by the adjoining house) there was the coat of arms of the Guzmanes family and another segur facing each other. The coats of arms correspond to those of Duke Enrique de Guzmán and his wife Leonor de Mendoza. The double segur adopted as its own symbol by Duke Enrique de Guzmán, apart from other considerations, can be related to the lordly power and the faculties granted by the Crown to the House of Medina Sidonia. It is a semicircular arch framed by a molding, of which only a part is preserved. Its name is due to the marble relief that can be appreciated in the internal part that resembles an "Axe or Segur", which means the judicial power of Rome. Under this axe, there is a coat of arms belonging to the Mendoza family. In the upper part of the Arch there is a plaque dedicated to Juan Relinque.

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