We go to the Axarquía region to discover the small town of El Borge and all its charm. Its over 900 inhabitants live in a natural enclave of authentic white village marked by its beauty, tranquility, and interesting history.
Table of Contents
History of El Borge
Under the protection of the Castillo de Comares, it was part of a group known in the 11th century as “Las Cuatro Villas,” which included the towns of Cútar, Moclinejo, and Almáchar.
It is a witness to one of the most notable battles of the 15th century in Spain, during the Christian Reconquista wars, being the site of the defeat of Castilian troops led by the Marquis of Cádiz against the Muslim army led by El Zagal.
From the recent history of El Borge, the terrible phylloxera plague in 1875 that decimated the vineyard cultivation of the region, bringing great poverty to the area, is notable. Additionally, El Borge was heavily affected by the well-known Andalusian Earthquake, a seismic event that occurred on Christmas Day in 1884.
As a curious fact, the town of El Borge is twinned with a Cuban city, sharing the same name since 2005.
What to See and Do in El Borge
Grapes are the main attraction in El Borge. Its wines are part of the Denomination of Origin “Vinos de Málaga” and it is also the largest producer of raisin grapes by land area within the Important Agricultural Area of the World System.
What to See in El Borge
Not only can you enjoy the quality of its grapes, El Borge offers more to visitors who want to discover what its streets and history hide.
The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary
The beauty of this church makes it unique and different from other churches in nearby towns; its mix of styles. Although its foundations and origins date back to an ancient Mudejar building, the passage of time, architectural styles, and numerous renovations reveal Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance features. A visit to its crypt is a must.
The House of El Bizco
The house of the bandit, and possibly the most recognizable character within the history of El Borge, was home to a museum about banditry until it opened in another location in 2023.
Interpretation Center Gallery of the Bandit or Gallery of Andalusian Banditry
Recovering the complete collection of the former Bandit Museum of Ronda, this center offers an essential part of Andalusian history. It blends history with legend, heroes with villains.
Fuente El Cuerno
This fountain of Arab origin has survived the passage of time, as despite numerous modifications, it has retained its essence.
Portrait of Ibn Al-Baitar
Ibn Al-Baitar was a botanist and physician from the era of Al-Andalus. He lived in the town of El Borge and his great contribution was the beginning of the cultivation of oranges and lemons in the province of Málaga.
Nature and Hiking
The location of El Borge, at the foot of Cerro Cútar and near the Montes de Málaga and Axarquía, makes it a true paradise for nature and hiking enthusiasts. A landscape marked by vineyards and olive trees.
Hiking Route Cerro del Ejido
In a little over an hour and a half, you can cover the four kilometers of this hiking route, which starts from El Borge towards Almáchar.
We will see hiking signs a few meters from starting the route. Before reaching the first kilometer of the trail, we can see the colossus of La Maroma, as well as Tejeda and Almijara. Vineyards, olive trees, and almond trees give way to vegetation.
After a little more than a kilometer, the trail appears sedimented, and we come across Fuente Abad, among a small olive grove, which we leave behind to reach a ravine to reach the Cútar pass. Here, you find numerous paths and options to continue, turning left to start the ascent to the highest point.
After passing a resting area that serves as a viewpoint, we continue along the last stretch of the ascent to crown Cerro Cútar.
Hiking Route La Charata Path
We begin the route along the dry riverbed of El Borge, following the trail known as “Romería” that will take us to the place where this festivity takes place. This is an easy route.
Our path takes us to the Briones area, from where we start advancing along the path, leaving behind the dry riverbed of the town. We continue to the highest point of this route, at about 600 meters above sea level, known as “Concuña”.
Popular Festivals and Gastronomy
In addition to the nationally known festivities, El Borge has some truly unique festivals that are part of local culture.
San Gabriel Patron Saint Festivities
It is a festive day in the town as it commemorates the image of its patron; San Gabriel. It is a three-day fair that begins with a traditional soccer match between singles and married people. It is a time of much celebration with concerts, performances, dances, masses, and many more activities.
Day of the Raisin
The popular festival of the Raisin Day takes place on September 16th, where the town and part of the region promote and showcase the star product of the area.
Night of the Souls
Different activities are carried out that begin in the afternoon, promoting culture related to souls and the deceased.
Gastronomy in El Borge
With a significant amount of vineyard, the star of El Borge’s gastronomy is the grape in many forms; from muscatel raisins to wines with Denomination of Origin “Vinos de Málaga”.
But if we talk about food, we must highlight, in addition to its stews, tomato soup, and cucumber gazpacho, chicken a la Borge, garlic goat, cod fritters with cane honey, and one of its most typical desserts, the hornazo.
How to Get to El Borge
How to Get There by Public Transport
A bus departs daily from Muelle Heredia towards El Borge. The journey takes an hour and a quarter, but the total travel time, including the route from Málaga Airport to Muelle Heredia Bus Station, is about two hours, with a 25-minute trip from the airport.
How to Get There by Car
To make the most of your trip to El Borge, we recommend hiring a car without a franchise at Málaga Airport, only worrying about enjoying the road and the landscapes.
To head towards El Borge, we need to look for the A-7, a busy road that circles Málaga city and will be one of the main routes in our journey of approximately 50 minutes. We will take exit 968, just after passing Rincón de la Victoria, towards Torre de Benagalbón and Benagalbón itself. This exit will take us to Benagalbón via MA-3200, then to Moclinejo via MA-3119, with well-preserved roads and good traffic flow.
MA-3114 will take us to the outskirts of Almáchar, and then we will turn left on MA-3109 to reach our destination in El Borge.
Map of El Borge
To ensure you have no problems arriving and can enjoy all its wonders, here is a map of El Borge.
