| THE HOUSE
Numero Seis Calle del Castillo is one of the oldest houses in Vejer de
La Frontera, at the very top of this historic town, within the fortifications.
The oldest part is the stone entrance hall, which could be up to 1200
years old. When digging for the pool they found remains going back through
Moorish to Roman.
Certainly the main stone structure of the house dates back to the 11th
Century when this was an Arabic stronghold of Al Andalus, a fabulously
advanced islamic society. At some point this quarter, with its tiny alleys
and squares, became the Juderia, the Jewish quarter. (If you look up at
the church, which started life as a Mosque, you can still make out a star
of David). As the house is within the Castle walls, the well in our courtyard
was essential because Vejer was constantly under siege.
Homes like this were lived in communally until very recently with a family
in each room. Cooking was communal, on that little stove thing by our
kitchen and the one original toilet is still there on our balcony. Thankfully
we now have two other modern bathrooms.
Although it now has many modern facilities, including dishwasher, washing
machine, CD, TV and video, it is a very old house, decorated in the simple
local style, full of character and history, but also higgledy piggledy,
up and down, with lots of interconnecting little rooms on two floors,
around the courtyard and garden, where there is a small pool for cooling
off.
It has a phone and the number is : 00 34 – 956 451 674
This is a private house, so it is essential that you take out
your own travel insurance, as we are not liable for any accidents etc.
|
