Vejer de la Frontera is a Spanish hilltop town and
municipality in the province of
Cádiz,
Andalusia, on the right bank of the river Barbate. The town of Vejer de la Frontera occupies a low hill overlooking the
Straits of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar ( ar, مضيق جبل طارق, Maḍīq Jabal Ṭāriq; es, Estrecho de Gibraltar, Archaic: Pillars of Hercules), also known as the Straits of Gibraltar, is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Medit ...
and surrounded by orchards and orange groves. It contains several ancient churches and convents, and the architecture of many of its houses recalls the period of
Moorish
The term Moor, derived from the ancient Mauri, is an exonym first used by Christian Europeans to designate the Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily and Malta during the Middle Ages.
Moors are not a distinct or se ...
rule, which lasted from 711 until the town was captured by
Saint Ferdinand of Castile in 1248. Agriculture and fruit-farming are the chief industries; fighting bulls are also bred in the neighborhood
and a
running of the bulls is held annually.
Demographics
Festivities
Vejer Rally: It is the most important sporting event in the town, it is a test of the Andalusian Mountain Championship with more than 35 editions.
Carnaval: Traditional Cadiz-style
carnival
Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...
with chirigotas and comparsas and a wider range of costumes. It is held one week after the
Carnival of Cádiz
The Carnival of Cádiz () is one of the best-known carnivals in Spain. Its main characteristic is humor. Through sarcasm, mockery and irony, the main groups and the people of the street "purge" the most pressing problems of today. The whole city p ...
.
Holy Week: A sober and intimate
Holy Week held in the alleys of Vejer. There are three brotherhoods: The Brotherhood of the Cristo de la Oliva which performs procession on Holy Wednesday, the Brotherhood of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, which parades on Holy Thursdays and the Brotherhood of the Soledad which performs its procession on Holy Friday. The latter two are accompanied by Saetas.
Spring Carnival: Main festivity of the town with various casetas and attractions.
Verbena de San Juan: The strawmen Juanillos and Juanillos are burned, taking the shape of important personalities during the year. The festivity also includes the
fire bull
A ''toro de fuego'' ("fire bull") is a festive activity in Spain, where a metal frame resembling a bull, with fireworks attached to it, is set alight, and then the person carrying the frame runs around town at night as if chasing people in the st ...
.
Velada de Nuestra Señora de la Oliva: Romeria where the patron saint of the town is taken to her sanctuary.
Sister cities
*
Ostuni,
Italy
*
Chefchaouen,
Morocco[Chaouen está hermanada con Vejer de la Frontera (Cádiz), que a su vez estuvo bajo el dominio musulmán durante cinco siglos.]
*
Amboise
Amboise (; ) is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France. Today a small market town, it was once home of the French royal court.
Geography
Amboise lies on the banks of the river Loire, east of Tours. It is also about away f ...
,
France
Gallery
Vista de Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz, España, 2015-12-09, DD 20.JPG, General view.
Vista de Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz, España, 2015-12-09, DD 13.JPG, View of the mill.
Plaza de España, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz, España, 2015-12-09, DD 03.JPG, Main square.
Callejeando por Vejer (32398207983).jpg, Street in Vejer.
Véjer de la Frontera Conjunt històric 2.jpg, Church of Divino Salvador.
Ayuntamiento de Vejer (32830690160).jpg, Town Hall.
Vejerdsc02022.jpg, Mayorazgo Tower.
Statue of a veiled woman, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain, 2007-04-01.jpg, Statue of a veiled woman in Vejer
References
External links
Visitor information about the town and area, multilingualTourist information siteInformation for English speaking visitors
Costa de la Luz
Municipalities of the Province of Cádiz
{{Andalusia-geo-stub
