Journey to the heart of Júzcar, the Smurf village

In the immediate surroundings of the Genal valley, embraced by a landscape full of nature, there lies a village of picturesque little streets that enchants one and all who come to visit it. And not only is it one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia, it also resonates with a special magic —a magic that imbues every one of its beautiful spots and each of its blue houses, glimpsed from the distance. Not to mention its delicious cuisine and pleasant surroundings. The following will be a guide through routes and itineraries until reaching the heart of one of Spain’s most intriguing villages, Júzcar –commonly known as the Smurf village.

A white village turns blue

Júzcar is not a typical village, something clearly understood upon first sight. Upon sighting this treasure in the Ronda mountains, the first striking feature is its blue houses. Another may be the numerous references to the Smurfs cartoons. At this point, the visitor may now be asking themselves what this Belgian cartoon has to do with a tiny village in the heart of Malaga province.

Everything began in 2011 when Júzcar was selected to be the site of the The Smurfs 3D film premiere. A well-known producer from Madrid in collaboration with Sony Pictures had the idea of painting an immaculate whitewashed village blue for the occasion.

If any colour defines the Smurfs, it is blue. And with that, the producers got to work and the entire village of Júzcar was painted blue. Consequently, the inhabitants of Júzcar liked it so much that they decided to keep the colours once the premiere had finished. Not only that, many businesses changed their names to character names from the famous cartoon.

Becoming the Smurf village par excellence is a radical change for any village, even though it is not officially denominated so due to a dispute between the municipality and the creators of the animated tale, Peyo. As a result, Júzcar is not currently the Smurf village, but the Aldea Azul (Blue Village). Other than that, everything else continues as before.

Graffiti tour of Júzcar, the Smurf village

One of the first things any traveller to Júzcar should do is the graffiti tour, especially if travelling with children. As well as being a perfect excuse to take a pleasant walk through the village, it may be quite the challenge for the little ones. There are fourteen paintings scattered throughout the village related to different scenes from the Smurfs film.

Each graffiti reveals a QR code containing a single word. Upon finishing the tour, the words from each graffiti form a phrase containing a secret. What´s even better is the route offers a splendid itinerary of picturesque little streets where one can discover the local culture and taste the best of Andalusian cuisine on the tapas route, in which several bars and restaurants take part.

Adventure routes

The adventure tour is a highly recommended activity, especially if travelling with kids or even those looking to rediscover their inner child and release a little adrenaline during the holiday. The itinerary consists of a series of zip lines, jumps, climbing and bridges –ideal for an afternoon of adventure in the purest Smurf style.

All the attractions are designed to assure children’s safety and adult enjoyment. Highly recommended are the Villain’s Leap, Great Zul’s Jump, Grouchy’s Ascent and the Prankster’s Pass. This last one is noteworthy for being a five-metre tall Tibetan bridge. If adrenaline is not on the itinerary, the route also includes several playgrounds and trampolines.

Júzcar from above

A good way to observe the beauty of this enclave is from one of its lookouts. Some of the more popular ones outside the village are accompanied by, as one would expect, a statue of one Smurf or another. The lookout of Torrichuela is one of the most visited, and there one can take in a breathtaking panoramic view of Júzcar’s little blue houses while snapping a photo next to Papa Smurf.

The lookout of Jardón ffers a fabulous view of the Ronda mountains. Likewise, the observation points at Zuas and San José provide a picture-perfect scene blending the blue village into the green surroundings. Undoubtedly, one of the most ideal landscapes to photograph in the Málaga region.

Júzcar, much more than the Smurf village

No sooner stepping onto its blue streets does one realise that Júzcar is a place where people go to return to their childhood. The legacy left by the Smurfs’ promotional campaign has even inspired the local residents to preserve its newly acquired heritage. Nevertheless, this tiny village also harbours some historical treasures worth discovering such as the church of Santa Catalina de Siena and the San Miguel Royal Tinplate Factory, the first of its kind in Spain.

Mushroom enthusiasts will be in seventh heaven at Júzcar’s Micological Museum, a veritable encyclopaedia of the numerous varieties of these delicious fungi. The village hosts mushroom fairs and, naturally, include these delicacies in the local cuisine.

Hiking routes

Travel to the Smurf village and enjoy the mountains? No problem. In Júzcar, there is plenty on offer to suit any plan, from discovering Andalusian culture to exploring the stunning natural beauty of its settings. Hiking trails suitable for families lead out of the village, including the very accessible Molinos hiking trail, an approximate hour-long trek in the surrounding area.

The Riscos and Monclón trails are treks requiring a bit more effort, lasting from two to three hours depending on one’s pace. These routes are circular and can be taken on foot or, having mountain-riding experience, by bicycle. Also in the area, the Sima del Diablo and Majales offer canyoning activities.

Júzcar’s exquisite location allows for having a look at the surrounding area.  One must-see destination is Ronda, considered one of Spain’s most beautiful towns whose architectonic beauty dazzles. If time is not a constraint, another fantastic option includes a visit to the villages of Cádiz, an exhilarating journey through charming Andalusia.