El Repilado

El Repilado has grown up around the railway station © Michelle Chaplow
El Repilado has grown up around the railway station

El Repilado

by Saskia Mier

El Repilado is one of the dependant villages of Jabugo located within the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park, 4kms west of Jabugo.

There are two theories for the origin of the name; the first argues that El Repilado is named after the first family that settled in these lands. The family, among other things, set up a local bar/cafe famous for its honey and meloja (a sweet treat made from honey), in what is now called the "Old Repilado" in front of a flour mill.

The second theory, more environmental, connects it to the river that crosses the town: Rio Caliente, also called the Rio Pelado, eventually evolving to be named El Repilado.

HISTORY

El Repilado began as a few old farmhouses, and possibly an inn, and experienced a boom after the arrival of the railway, building a new section of the village around the train station.

It was known in the early 20th century as "Cataluña La Chica" for its high industrialization equipped with sawmill, a loom and a pâté factory. The Santa Teresa building supplied electricity to many villages in the region of this province and also had a grain warehouse. All of this as well as the rail road lent El Repilado a certain status.

THINGS TO SEE

Estación Jabugo-Galaroza

The train station of Jabugo-Galaroza is located at kilometre 87.4 of the Iberian gauge railway line linking Huelva with Zafra in Extramadura, 595m above sea level, between the stations of Cumbres Mayores and Almonaster - Cortegana. The section is single-track and not electrified.

Train Tickets Online - Buy your Andalucia and Spanish train tickets online in English language. Obtain either eTicket by email or paper tickets by post. Includes seat reservation when available.

The station was opened to traffic on 1 January 1889, with the opening of the Zafra-Valdelamus, a railway that joined Zafra with Huelva. The works were carried out by the Zafra-Huelva Company. This modest company of English capital maintained line and operated the trains until the nationalization of the railways in Spain and the creation of RENFE in 1941. From 31 December 2004 ,Renfe Operadora operates the line while Adif is the owner of the railway facilities. Located on Calle Industriales.

Santa Teresa

A monumental structure built in the mid-20th century, around the railway station of El Repilado; built by people of Los Romeros and the surrounding villages, ordered by Don RománTalero Garcia for his wife, Doña Teresa Garcia who named the building after her. The Santa Teresa revolutionized the Sierra, speeding up progress of the electricity supply for industry; until then there were very few points of light available in the province.

Fábrica de Harinas

The flour factory was built in 1904. Thanks to the railway line, passengers as well as goods could travel between the coast and the sierra, between Andalucia and Extremadura as well as providing a junction of various branches of mining railways in the region of Andévalo that served the port of Huelva. The factory was used as a stopping place only a few feet from the station.

Sunshine and shadows in El Repilado, Jabugo. © Michelle Chaplow
Sunshine and shadows in El Repilado, Jabugo.

WALKING

There are several walking routes, specifically from Jabugo, however El Repilado has a route that ends in La Canaleja.

El Repilado-La Canaleja

A short route of 2 kms, part of the village of El Repilado on the N-435 road deviates a few meters after and comes to the county road H-111.The route turns off the road to the right, just before the bridge over the river Caliente. It continues along a lane, with the Vega Llana farms on the left, while twisting gently south east. Exits the track crossing the ravine Esparragosa, where it intersects with the route Jabugo-Cortegana, and continues on to Almonaster la Real.

 

 


GASTRONOMY

As in neighbouring Jabugo, the jamon iberico de pata negra (cured black-footed Iberican pig) is the speciality. The fresh Iberian pork is also popular with a selection of different cuts available, it is best grilled or barbequed. Not a bit of the pig is wasted, and remains are used to make a variety of cured sausages and contribute to stews. The rice puddings of this area is particularly special and worth a try.

FESTIVALS 

San Juan

The tradition of San Juan is to cut down a pine tree and take it to the Old Repilado, accompanied by the villagers singing and dancing to a tambourine. It is celebrated on 24 June and three adjacent days. Religious acts take place in honour of the patron saint and at night music is played in the CasetaMunicipal.

Inhabitants of El Repilado also celebrate the festivities of Jabugo, such as San Miguel, Santisima Trinidad and Nuestra Señora de los Remedios.

LOCATION

El Repilado is located 105 kms from Huelva on the Autopista del Quinto Centenario. After the detour to the N-435 to Valverde del Camino, pass this village, continue along the N-435, turning left after Fuente del Oro onto H-8112 and continue to El Repilado.

Booking.com

Destinations