Barbate

History and Overview

Barbate is a small fishing port mainly dedicated to Tuna fishing. It is also the famous site of the battle of Trafalgar. It is a town of some 20.000 people 40km north of Tarifa. The town used to be called Barbate de Franco, as, during the dictatorship, General Franco used to spend his summers fishing here.

The city of Barbate is situated in the middle of one of the oldest cultural landscapes in Spain. It owes its early origin to its strong strategic position above the river Barbate and close to the sea. This location provided the town with good defenses and easy access to the sea by river. Barbate most probably already existed during the rule of the Carthaginians (roughly 400 BC.). The name of the city presumably originates from that time. It is likely that the Carthaginians called the river Barbate "Wadi-Baka" - after the city of Baka which dominated its delta. During the course of time the word "Baka" gradually seems to have been transformed into the name "Barbate".

The Romans, Vandals & Visigoths

Visible relics from the time of the Roman rule include the street at the northern slope of the hill on which Barbate is situated, the arch at the end of the Corredera and parts of the lglesia Parroquial. The Teutonic migration of people into Spain finally ended the Roman rule here. During the short time the Vandals occupied the South of Spain and before moving on to North Africa they indirectly provided Andalusia with its present name. It was the Arabs, who referred to the Southern part of Spain as " al-Andalus" meaning "country of the Vandals".

The Islamic invasion

A part of the vault of the Iglesía Parroquial originates from the period of the Visigoths. They were later defeated in a decisive battle against the Arabs at the lagoon of the river Barbate ("Laguna La Janda") close to Barbate. In the following centuries the old town developed its essential characteristics (castle, fortification and layout of the streets and houses). During the "Reconquista" at the beginning of the 13th century the first Christian troops appeared in the area around of Barbate but it was not until 1250 that they finally conquered the town itself. In the following decades the occupation of the town changed hands several times between the Arabs and Christians. From that period stems the appendix "de la Frontera" pertaining to the frontier between Arab and Christian occupied Spain. Guzmán el Bueno defended Barbate against the last Arab attack in 1291. In 1292 Guzmán set out to defend Tarifa. During these fights he sacrificed one of his sons who had been captured by the Arabs and held hostage in an attempt to force the city to surrender. In 1293 Guzmán became the first mayor of Barbate. Later on the whole town was given to him by Fernando IV as a reward for his merits.

The Battle of Trafalgar

On the 2lst of October 1805 the British navy under the command of Admiral Nelson destroyed the unified French and Spanish armada at Cabo Trafalgar. The roar of cannon fire could be heard as far as Barbate. In 1811 Napoleon' s troops occupied Barbate. Don José Miranda Cabezón, led a successful campaign against the French occupation which resulted in the liberation of Andalusia.

Modern Day Barbate

One of the main attractions of modern day Barbate is its beach. They are of fine golden sand, that together with a bright sunshine and a lot of fresh and crystalline Atlantic waters, go to help you have some unforgettable days here. A young atmosphere, with secluded beaches makes Barbate one of the best places for enjoyment by both children and adults. With terraces, chiringuitos (beach bars) and cafeterias... these are just some of the elements that go towards making Barbate the place to put down your parasol.

Barbate beach makes you wonder why anyone bothers with the Costa del Sol. Behind the dunes, the hills are sparsely inhabited. A few cows mooch around, chewing on the cacti that serve as a fence. If you walk the full length of the beach, you reach a clutch of rock pools where you can chip soap-sized bars from the cliffs, bash them into paste and coat yourself in the mud. Lie in the sun until the minerals have dried and then wash it all off in the sea: your skin will feel peachy-soft. Barbate is home to a handful of European hippies, who live in yurts by a spring above the beach. In the summer, their numbers are swelled by opportunistic holiday-makers, eager to take advantage of some free accommodation. The result is riotous beach parties, including all-night dance parties in the sand.

A 22.5 kilometer drive to the west brings you to Barbate bay. Here the wind is stronger than in Tarifa due to a thermic effect caused by the hills. The wind travels longer over the water with a levante, so the waves are a little higher and the water is less `choppy'. Perfect for windsurfing.

History and Overview courtesy of www.barbate.to. For more information about places to eat and stay click on the link.