Welcome to the secret world of the Smurfs! The village of Júzcar, known as the Smurf village, is a small municipality in the western part of the province that is completely painted in blue, hence the name it has been given.
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History of Júzcar
There is no record of ancient settlements or settlers in the area, so the known history of Júzcar is limited to the Moorish period, which ended with the reconquest in 1485.
After this, the Moors, subjected to harsh measures, began to rebel with acts of guerrilla warfare and sabotage. In the 19th century, the first tinplate factory in Spain was built in Júzcar.
The Smurf Village
In 2011 the film The Smurfs was released, and to promote it a national marketing agency came up with the idea of decorating an entire village in blue. The locals then agreed to collaborate with them, painting the whole village in this characteristic colour with decorations from the well-known Smurf world.
What to see and do in Júzcar
The blue village is in an exceptional setting for the practice of activities linked to nature, especially adventure sports in some of the marvellous locations in the area.
Hiking routes: throughout the region you will find different routes, as shown on the map below. Some of them pass through such beautiful surroundings as the Torcal de los Riscos and the Castañar de Júzcar.
Adventure activities: the place you must visit is the Sima del Diablo, a gorge created by the erosion of a river. Here you can go canyoning to get your adrenaline pumping with professional equipment.
Mycological Museum: if you are a fan of mushrooms, this is an obligatory stop. It has an exhibition and a cultural information centre.
Popular festivals and gastronomy
“El Huerto del Niño”: without a doubt, the most characteristic festivity in Júzcar. At the end of Holy Week, on Easter Sunday, the villagers gather to build a hut with pine trees, recreating the reunion of the Virgin and the Child Jesus.
Fiesta de la Virgen de Moclón: held in August, it is celebrated in honour of its patron saint during 8 days of activities and events throughout the village.
Valle del Genal Mycological Days: held during the mushroom season, during November you can enjoy many activities in keeping with this tradition and, increasingly, a hobby for many people.
The main product of Júzcar’s gastronomy is mushrooms and similar, so you can’t leave without trying the scrambled eggs with garlic, mushrooms or asparagus. In winter, the most typical hot dish in the area is “sopeao de collejas”, a stew based on this little-known plant.
How to get to Júzcar
How to get there by bus
Due to its location, next to the Sierra de las Nieves, but far from the main transport routes, the village of Júzcar is difficult to reach by public transport. The best alternative is to take a bus from Malaga Station to Ronda.
From here there is a route that runs through all the villages in the region, such as Parauta or Faraján, stopping in Júzcar. It leaves Ronda at 13.30 and you can be in the village in half an hour.
How to get there by car
However, if you have decided to rent a comfortable 7-seater car in Malaga you have the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful drive through the green mountains of the Sierra de las Nieves.
From the airport, taking the MA-21, and following the turn-off to the AP-7 in the direction of Fuengirola will take you less time than by bus (1 hour and a half by motorway). If you want to take the motorway to Marbella, just follow this route without turning off until exit 172 towards San Pedro de Alcántara, just before Benahavís.
From here it can be a bit tricky, be careful when changing direction, and always look out for Ronda.
If you prefer to avoid it, you can follow the road through Alhaurín El Grande, Ojén or Monda, and in Marbella take the old N-340 road, which runs along the coast and stretches all the way to Cádiz. It is a more beautiful route, as you cross country roads between mountains, but much slower (more than 2 hours).
Relevant information
Best time of the year to visit: April-May and November-December.
Not to miss: Strolling through the nearby green forests.
Places to eat nearby: In the village itself you have some very traditional alternatives where to eat, as it is a small village. In the small nearby villages you will also find restaurants where you can try typical and traditional food of the region.
For more information about the town you can consult the website of the Town Hall of Júzcar: https://www.juzcar.es/
