Holiday Rental Villa With Character near Ronda, Andalucia, Spain

Property Description

The Estate

This vast, twenty-two hectare (54 acre) estate, just north of Ronda on the edge of the Grazalema National Park, is one of the most beautiful rural locations in all Spain. It was selected by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine as one of its top 100 rural tourism destinations in Europe.

Owned and developed by a French concert pianist with an artist's eye for beauty, the estate has thirteen holiday villas and five swimming pools located in three distinct, separate parts of the mountainside. Distances between them such that there is no sense of crowding here, no sense of being part of a complex.

There are three traditional houses, La Casa Grande, which is featured on this page (below), and which sleeps eight or ten; Casa Pequena, sleeping two, and El Cortijo, sleeping four. Each of these has its own private pool.

Lower down the mountain is Le Paradis, six one bedroomed villas sharing a pool between them; further across is another small development, El Paraiso Escondido which comprises four studio-villas, exclusively for couples, also sharing its own swimming pool.

There are also links to the other properties on the Estate lower down this page on the right.

Each of the thirteen houses is decorated to reflect the region's cultural heritage, with interiors filled with Arab rugs and artifacts, walls adorned with Moorish ceramics and materials. All have air-conditioning, central heating, satellite TV, a DVD film channel and CD players. With five beautiful outdoor swimming pools, a communal tennis court and surroundings of gorgeous countryside as far as the eye can see, many clients come year after year.

It is not, however, luxurious. Style here, both inside and out, is deliberately rustic, rural and natural. The estate is maintained in its authentic state, with paths roughly hewn rather than neatly paved and pristine. There are flowers, shrubs and trees a plenty but no immaculately kept lawns or neatly trimmed hedges - it's real mountain countryside, real Andalucía!

Situated three kilometres down a mountain track (which is always maintained in excellent condition) from the traditional, and very pretty pueblo blanco of El Gastor, this is not a location suited to those in search of bright lights or even a wide range of local facilities, but anyone looking for authenticity and tranquility will treasure this unspoilt paradise. There are stunning views in every direction, encompassing the Lake of Zahara, the Lagarín Ridge and huge swathes of the Grazalema National Park.

Above all else, this is a place to relax and unwind, to stroll and explore, to read or paint, or just lounge by the pool and enjoy the wondrous nature all around. But if you want to venture out, apart from friendly El Gastor just down the track, it's only a few miles from here to the main road which will take you quickly on to Ronda and the coastal resorts of the Costa del Sol further south, or on to Sevilla, Córdoba or Granada if you head northwards.

It's a paradise for lovers of birds, large and small. The Lagarín Ridge which soars up almost vertically behind the estate was once a favourite hide-away for the regions' banderos. Home to a colony of griffon vultures, short toed and bonnelli eagles and with sightings here of a pair of golden eagles, the only other inhabitants these days are the famous Cabra Montes, the Ibex mountain goats.

Active types can indulge in a wide range of outdoor pursuits such as hill walking, mountain biking (some bicycles are available on the estate), horse-riding and rock climbing. For a bird's eye view of the spectacular surroundings, you could even treat yourself to a hot air balloon flight at dawn operated by a locally based English couple.

ZC40(1) La Casa Grande

A joyfully eccentric, rambling house set in five acres of wild and exotic gardens, with stunning mountain views, "La Casa Grande" hugs the hillside like a beacon.

It's a lovely house, one with lots of character which offers up delight after delight - be it reclining on silk cushions in its minaret-like tower, sipping mint tea and admiring the marvelous views, or maybe reposing on the Alhambra-esque patio. The tinkle of the fountain is a great salve for stressed urbanites.

There are many enchanting features. In the spacious living room a grand piano and the impressive mountain panorama seen through the huge picture windows is a source of inspiration for any musician.

The kitchen is charmingly rustic but well equipped. Meals can be taken in front of the aged stone hearth in the beamed dining room or outside on the cobbled terrace in the pale green shade cast by a lovely old carob tree.

Two twin bedrooms share a bathroom on the ground floor whilst on the upper level there are two double bedrooms each with its own en-suite bathroom.

An adjacent, self-contained studio cottage (which is never let separately) is available along with the main house for larger groups, increasing the total capacity to ten. The cottage has a double bed, a little kitchenette area and a shower room / W.C.

The five acres of private gardens are a riot of colour with not a few hidden treasures. Pathways zigzag the hillside, passing spiky yuccas, roses and lavender, on their way to the tempting, naturally-shaped swimming pool.

With the glorious countryside of the Grazalema Natural Park literally on the doorstep this is, quite simply, a great place to be.

There are a handful of mountain bikes available for the use of guests who may, of course, also use the estate's tennis court (balls and rackets are provided).

El Gastor, the nearest village, is a short drive away (or a very pleasant 3 km walk). The village has several bars and restaurants, a number of shops (bakery, butcher's, greengrocers etc.) and a petrol station. The people of the village are very welcoming and you are bound to make new friends should you venture out for lunch or dinner.

For trips out, you are spoilt for choice here. Ronda is half an hour away. Straddling the extraordinary Tajo Gorge which plunges to a depth of more than 150 metres, it is known to locals as the "The City of Dreams". With its mansion houses, quaint narrow streets, museums, art galleries and Spain's oldest bullring, it is well worth visiting.

The Grazalema National Park begins, literally, on your doorstep. This is one of the most beautiful tracks of mountain anywhere in Europe, with an astonishingly diverse flora and fauna. There are deep gorges, high peaks and some of Spain’s most attractive rural architecture. Most villages in the Park date back to the Moorish period and their names reflect their Berber origins: Zahara, Benamahoma, Torre Alháquime … A visit to La Cueva de la Pileta cave to see its 25,000 year old troglodyte paintings is another must.

The pretty white villages of Grazalema, Zahara and Setenil are all close by and worth visiting. Sevilla, just an hour and a half to the north west, is a fabulous day excursion. Granada can be also be visited as a day trip. Jerez with its numerous sherry bodegas and the Royal School of Equestrian Art is an hour away. The beaches of the Costa del Sol are only a little more than a one hour drive to the south; the lesser-known but quite sensational Atlantic beaches are a couple of hours to the west.

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Contact Us

Would you like to book this property? Any questions? We are here to help

info@rusticblue.com

00 34 958 763 381

Contact us for bookings, questions or other help

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Property Details

Main house (sleeps 8) :

Ground Floor :

Living room

Dining room

Kitchen

2 bedrooms (both twin bedded)

Bathroom

Terrace

Internal patio (with fountain)

Gardens

First Floor :

2 bedrooms (both doubles, both with en-suite bathrooms)

Minaret tower room

Cottage (sleeps 2) :

A self-contained cottage alongside the main house, made available for larger groups:

Double bedroom / kitchentte

Shower room W.C.

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Facilities

Satellite TV (some channels in English; also German, French etc) • DVD • CD Player / Radio • DVD's available

Glaass fronted fireplace in the living room • Air Conditioning / Heating Units

Gas Oven • Gas hob (4 rings) • Microwave • Fridge / freezer • Dishwasher • Toaster • Kettle • Coffee pot • Cooking utensils • Cutlery • Crockery

Washing Machine • Iron & board

All linen is provided (including pool towels) • Hairdryer (on request) • Cot & Highchair available (on request)

Gated, filtered swimming pool (12 m x 5 m; 0.8 m - 1.8 m deep)

Pool terrace • Gardens • External lighting • Sunbeds • Sunshades • Pool shower • Barbecue • Outdoor dining and garden furniture • Parking

Shared Facilities : Estate lands and gardens • Tennis Court • Mountain Bikes • Safe

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Notes

Weather permitting, the swimming pool will be open throughout the year (although, because it's not heated, the normal swimming season is from April to September, inclusive)

Rentals for this property normally run from from Sunday to Sunday

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