There's something magical about La Fructuosa, a 19th-century inn hugging the slopes of a tiny mountain village. The views really take your breath away. After falling under Gaucin's spell during a visit to the Art Gaucin festival, owners Catherine and Daniel (she is a sculptor and ceramicist, he ran a B&B) moved from Brussels to start a new life here. You can expect a warm multilingual welcome, cheery paintings and sculptures on the walls, a convivial atmosphere, and great food in the old wine cellar.
Upstairs, six cheerful and unique bedrooms make a restorative base for overnight guests, and up again, a roof terrace gazes over the mountains towards the distant coast. By day, this area is ideal for relaxing, walking in the mountains and exploring Andalucia's iconic pueblos blancos (white hilltop towns).
Highs
- Its location: perched in a pretty mountain village with views out to Gibraltar and beyond
- A window into traditional village life: the restaurant is a firm favourite with locals as well as weary travellers
- The shared roof terrace with fabulous views to the coast, where you can happily while away the hours with a bottle of red
- Original chestnut beams and wine press add an authentic sense of history
- It's brilliant value for money
Lows
- The restaurant has changed hands since we last visited and is now run independently, but the new chef is Michelin starred so standards are unlikely to slip!
- Staff are only on site for part of the day, so it’s best suited to more independent travellers
- There's no swimming pool or garden, but there is a large shared roof terrace
- Driving in Gaucin is pretty hairy, with steep and narrow one-way streets. You'll need to park a few hundred metres from the hotel and walk down
Best time to go
Come in spring and autumn for walking, April/May for wild flowers and migratory birds. July and August can be very hot and there is no swimming pool, although being high up in the mountains always ensures it is a few degrees cooler than on the coast. Artistic types should come in May for the Art Gaucin Open Studios event.
Our top tips
Although Gaucin's chaotic maze of tiny cobbled streets and whitewashed houses can seem daunting at first, after 24 hours in the village you will be navigating them like a pro. Don’t miss a sunset walk up to the castillo (castle).
Location
La Fructuosa is in Gaucin, a small village about 40 minutes' drive south of Ronda, Andalucia.
By Air
Fly into Gibraltar (60km), Malaga (125km) or Seville (163km).
From the Airport
You can travel by train to Gaucin and take a taxi, but to make the most of your trip, we strongly recommend that you hire a car. Remember to take caution and follow the speed limit (regardless of what the locals are doing). The streets of Gaucin are very narrow and parking is limited.
Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Andalucia and getting around
Airports:
- Gibraltar - North Front 60.0 km GIL
- Malaga - Costa del Sol 120.0 km AGP
Other:
- Beach 35.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape