Tucked away in the narrow, cobbled streets of Castaño del Robledo,
the highest village in La Sierra de Aracena Natural Park, this lovely old house
has been carefully and tastefully converted into a charming little guesthouse,
offering both bed & breakfast and convivial company.
The young British owners travelled the world as tour guides for the Explore walking company before deciding to make their home here, in their favourite place
of all.
With just 200 or so inhabitants, Castaño del Robledo is
peaceful as well as pretty. It has a lovely square with two tiny bars serving
coffee and tapas. The cobbled streets and whitewashed houses exhibit the typical serrano architecture of the area.
"The Posada" still retains many of the original features so valued
by the rural inhabitants of times gone by. From the rustic terracotta floor tiles
to the age old, chestnut roof beams, the house blends charm with practicality.
The thick outer walls keep the house cool in summer and cosy in winter,
while the terrace and courtyard offer possibilities for whiling away many a pleasant
hour in the sierra sunshine. The large cobblestone entrance hall recalls the days
when farm animals were led in through the house to a trough in the basement. Here,
precious hams were salted and hung to cure from hooks still visible on the wooden
beams.
There are six double rooms all with en-suite bathrooms.
All rooms are
different but all have their own character, and each is accessed from either the
courtyard, the terrace or from the upstairs lounge.
There are several other areas where guests can enjoy the traditional
surroundings. A cheerful downstairs living room, away from the guestrooms,
is a good place to indulge in a pleasant evening's conversation around its huge log
fireplace.
The quiet upstairs living room is tastefully furnished with
a sofa, chairs and coffee table and also has a selection of books and games available
for guests. From here, a balcony enjoys views to the cobbled street below, as
well as across the village rooftops to the church tower with its precarious stork's
nest.
Breakfast is served each morning in the largest room in the house.
It's a good place to start any day, the antique, chestnut panelled doors and dark
wooden floor boards contrasting with whitewashed walls. Double doors open to the
terrace.
The
covered terrace has a sunny southern aspect and overlooks the courtyard and garden
below. Breakfast may also be taken here in summer.
Castaño del Robledo lies in the heart of this beautiful mountain region. The best way to get to know
the countryside, the villages and the surrounding nature is to get out and walk
amongst it. Many of the Natural Park's most rewarding walking trails converge
here, and no one is better able to advise you on where or how to go than
the owners of "The Posada".
But it's not compulsory! You will be just as welcome if you simply want to relax
and enjoy the wealth of other interesting things to see and do here in the Sierra.
To mention just one, the village boasts one of the area's very best restaurants,
serving a variety of regional delicacies. Eating here, on the dining terrace which
overlooks the two old churches and the hills beyond, is something not to be missed.
Casual but welcoming and friendly, "La Posada del Castaño"
is a relaxing place to stay.
