Cádiz · Andalucía
Alcalá de los Gazules
- Province
- Cádiz
- Declared
- 1983
- Status
- Conjunto Histórico
- Population
- 5400
- Elevation
- 216 m
Alcalá de los Gazules is a heritage town in the province of Cádiz, Andalucía, Spain. It was designated a Conjunto Histórico (Spain's national heritage designation for historic ensembles) in 1983. Population 5400 (2020), elevation 216m.
Alcalá de los Gazules is the quiet gateway to Los Alcornocales Natural Park — one of Europe's largest cork oak forests — an unhurried Moorish hilltop town of whitewashed lanes and a ruined castle where the cork harvest is still conducted by hand each summer in the surrounding hills.
Key facts
- Province
- Cádiz
- Heritage status
- Conjunto Histórico (declared 1983)
- Population
- 5400 (2020)
- Elevation
- 216 m
History of Alcalá de los Gazules
The hill on which Alcalá sits was settled in prehistoric times; traces of Bronze Age and Iron Age habitation have been found in the surrounding countryside. The Romans were present (the Via Augusta passed nearby), and under Moorish rule the town was known as Qal'at Gazul, named after the Gazul clan of Berber origin who controlled the area. After its reconquest by Alfonso X in 1264, it was settled by Christian colonists and developed as a market town and military outpost.
The surrounding forest of cork oaks — one of the most extensive in Europe — has been harvested sustainably since at least the medieval period, providing cork for wine stoppers, and later flooring and insulation.
Heritage & Monuments
The ruined Moorish castle above the town, the Castillo de los Gazules, retains enough structure to give a sense of its original extent; the views from here over the cork forest and toward the coast are exceptional. The 16th-century Church of San Jorge, partly built over an earlier mosque, is the most important building in the old town. The narrow whitewashed streets of the barrio alto (upper quarter) are typical of the Cádiz sierra villages.
The Natural Park of Los Alcornocales, beginning on the edge of town, is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a superb walking and birdwatching destination. The park harbours one of the northernmost populations of the Iberian lynx, as well as griffon vultures, black storks, and golden eagles.
Practical Travel Info
Alcalá is 60 km from Jerez on the CA-212. A car is essentially required. The town is walkable, with the castle a short steep climb.
The Natural Park information centre is in the town and can advise on walks. Spring is the best season for flowers and birds. Cork harvesting (the saca del corcho) takes place in summer and can sometimes be observed.
Traditional food & drink in Andalucía
- Gazpacho
- — A cold soup of raw blended tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, garlic and olive oil — the taste of an Andalusian summer.
- Salmorejo
- — A thicker, creamier cousin of gazpacho from Córdoba, topped with chopped egg and jamón.
- Pescaíto frito
- — Lightly floured small fish flash-fried in olive oil — the classic coastal snack.
- Jamón ibérico
- — Cured ham from acorn-fed Iberian pigs, with prized denominations in Huelva and the Sierra.
- Sherry (Jerez)
- — The fortified wine of the Jerez triangle, from bone-dry fino to sweet Pedro Ximénez.
Watch: Sherry (Jerez)
Location
Quick answers
Is Alcalá de los Gazules worth visiting?▾
Alcalá de los Gazules is the quiet gateway to Los Alcornocales Natural Park — one of Europe's largest cork oak forests — an unhurried Moorish hilltop town of whitewashed lanes and a ruined castle where the cork harvest is still conducted by hand each summer in the surrounding hills.
Why is Alcalá de los Gazules a heritage town?▾
Alcalá de los Gazules is officially designated a Conjunto Histórico, declared in 1983 — Spain's national protection for historic town ensembles (Conjuntos Históricos).
What is the traditional food in Andalucía?▾
Andalucía is known for Gazpacho, Salmorejo, Pescaíto frito and Jamón ibérico. You'll find these regional specialities in and around Alcalá de los Gazules.
How big is Alcalá de los Gazules?▾
Alcalá de los Gazules has a population of about 5400 (2020), and sits at 216 m above sea level.
What is there to see in Alcalá de los Gazules?▾
The ruined Moorish castle above the town, the Castillo de los Gazules, retains enough structure to give a sense of its original extent; the views from here over the cork forest and toward the coast are exceptional. The 16th-century Church of San Jorge, partly built over an earlier mosque, is the most important building in the old town.
What is the history of Alcalá de los Gazules?▾
The hill on which Alcalá sits was settled in prehistoric times; traces of Bronze Age and Iron Age habitation have been found in the surrounding countryside. The Romans were present (the Via Augusta passed nearby), and under Moorish rule the town was known as Qal'at Gazul, named after the Gazul clan of Berber origin who controlled the area.
Nearby heritage towns
Medina Sidonia is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, its hilltop old town layered with Phoenician, Roman, Visigothic, Moorish, and Christian remains — and it is still largely undiscovered by tourism, making it one of the most rewarding half-days in all of Cádiz province.
A white hilltop town in Cádiz, its Moorish castle, medieval walls, and labyrinthine streets shaped by five centuries of Arab rule and the sea battle of Trafalgar fought just offshore.
Perched on a dramatic rocky ridge above the Guadalete river in Cádiz province, Arcos de la Frontera rises behind Arab walls that have stood since the eleventh century, its castle, basilica, and medieval street plan largely intact above the plain.
Last updated 20 June 2026.