Castellar
Written by Geoff Forster
Castellar: We drove along the A369 Ronda to Algeciras road to Castellar.
We'd seen the unattractive concrete church tower many times from the road but hadn't visited the pueblo.
It was late March and the weather was perfect. Sunshine and blue blue skies. 
Castellar is a new town. There is an older Castillo de Castellar is a few km away (with a castle). 
Jane said it reminded her of Australian Soap Operas - 'Ramsay Street' 
The church tower is truly awful. 
We'd visited nearby San Pablo and San Martin. We didn't like either too much. We expected a new town in the same area to be a disappointment. We were pleasantly surprised. 
Castellar had an spacious and open feel. Wide streets and two storey housing plus plenty of pretty public spaces. Very nice! 
Plenty of statues and interesting buildings. 
In the centre of the pueblo was a large row of shops and a children's play area. 
This is the Local Police station. 
There was some interesting modern architecture plus some well chosen trees and shrubs. 
A naked woman sunbathing in the town centre. 
Fountains and a modern bandstand. 
This is the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) of Castellar. 
There is a zoo on the outskirts of the town. 
In Spain a roundabout is a place to put a fountain or an interesting sculpture. 
Jane has to time it right to avoid a soaking. 
Castellar is expanding. Quite a few new houses are being built at the Southern end of the pueblo. 
The restaurante El Soto. A great place to eat. We enjoy the menu of the day here. 
Lots of tile plaques. Very well done in delicate pastel shades. 
A three legged horse bronze. (It has been repaired and now has all four limbs in place) 
A recent urbanisation. Again very spacious, with plenty of parking. 
A White Stork nesting on the horrendous church tower. 
Castillo de Castellar from Castellar. 
A few photos of Castillo de Castellar and the embalse we took on the same day. 
Gibraltar from Castillo de Castellar. 
Castellar from Castillo de Castellar. 
This is a Convent on outskirts of Castellar. It is now a Restaurante. 
We liked Castellar. A lovely new town. Flat, spacious with some great public areas with fantastic planting, statues and interesting architecture.
One big minus is the terrible church tower ... it is a striking tower that dominates the town and can be seen from the A369 road as you drive along. Paint it white, cover it in tiles ... or a mosaic .... It wouldn't cost that much, would it?