 Zuheros is indeed a beautiful village well worth visiting
Glaring bright light reflecting from chalk white
walls in harmony with the Mediterranean blue sky is everybody image
of a "pueblo blanco". Zuheros is one of the best
of these; "el pueblo mas bonito del mundo".
 It was originally settled by the Ibericos Pleno
to protect an ancient roadway known as the Camino de los Metedores,
the smugglers track. The Romans followed shortly afterwards, leaving
behind them relics found in the Las
Cuevas de los Murcielagos and elsewhere, some of which can be
seen in the museum just opposite the castle.
The village became really established during the
10th century under the reign of the Muslims at which time the first
castle was constructed, the last Moorish fortifications were completed
in the 12th century. The territory around Zuheros was finally conquered
by Fernando 3rd in 1241 and the castle was refortified in the 14th
century. At this time then castle became an important element in
the Christian defence of their territories against the last outpost
of Muslim rule that came from Granada.
The population grew from 90 in 1530 to 195 in 1694
and doubled a century later. This early demographic expansion prompted
the construction of a new "palace" in the final stages
of the sixteenth century. The absence of the "señores"
of the village caused the early demise of the renaissance structure
and it was dismantled in the 18th century and used as building materials
for the new houses that the increase in population demanded.
The Moorish Castle of Zuheros
Opposite the castle is the church, the Parroquia
de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, the patron saint
of the village. It was constructed in the sixteenth century but
highly modified in 1696 with the bell tower finally added in 1795.
Ideally situated on the fringe of the Sierra
Subbetica Natural Park it is now becoming a popular base
for walkers and painters, the Zuhayra (Tel: 957 694693) offers extremely
good accommodation and is splendidly run by the Abalos family.
The tourist office at the moment is closed, the
new mayor says he is going to do something about it.
The only resident Englishman, Clive Jarman (Tel:
+34 957 694 796 or +34 669 600 763) has just written a walking guide
for the area which is available from the Hotel. He is available
for guiding in the area.
The village is also famed for its cheese factory
Las Balanchares, locally bred goats from the Sierras provide the
milk for this internationally known product. Cheese can be bought
directly from the factory.
Four kms up the hill from Zuheros are Las Cuevas
de las Murcielagos well worth a visit for its formations and Neolithic
interest.
The old railway which passes the village has been
transformed into a Via Verde which serves as a walking and cycling
route. Bikes can be hired from the hotel.
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