Rute is a small, charming Spanish town located in the heart of the province of Cordoba. With a population of 10,000 residents, this white village has a couple of bars and a few stores making it an excellent destination for the vacationer seeking a quiet setting with a number of tourist activities. The town's claim to fame lies in the production of Aguardiente de Anis, a liqueur made from anise that dates back centuries.

 

There is a nice balance of activities from museums, including the Anis museum, to the restaurants offering some of Spain's best culinary staples including Jamones, an air cured ham, and delicate pastries. In the outskirts of town lies the Santuario de Burros, the famed donkey sanctuary run by a truly caring man who takes abused or neglected donkeys from many European countries and gives them a loving home until the end of their life.

 

Nature lovers will enjoy the neighbouring Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park. The park has many hiking trails, easily paths for casual strolls, and a number of animals and plants that tourists may never have seen before. Rute may be smaller than the cities tourists tend to add to their itineraries, but its blend of sightseeing activities and peaceful panoramas make it an amazing town to visit.

Nicknamed “The One of Old,” Rute was founded in the 1200s by Moors looking to create a stronghold in the limestone mountains. By 1240, the Christians attempted to seize the town for themselves and found success. Because Granada was nearby, the area saw frequent battles leading to a sharp decline in population. It would take two more centuries before the population finally started to recover following the Civil War in 1465. The frequent battles, however, had destroyed some buildings and damaged many others.

 

By the time the 1500s came, the population was growing steadily and homes were built further down the hillside. The new buildings mixed well with the old, with the older fortress and homes sitting high above the town and the churches and town buildings found lower on the slope.

The Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park became a national park in 1988. Beyond the hiking trails and walking paths, there are a number of colourful wildflowers found throughout the park. The Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park is also one of the best areas for bird watchers. Scientists believe that the park holds the largest colony of Griffon Vultures in Southern Spain. There are more than seventy other species of birds including Bonelli's Eagles, Booted Eagles, and Short-Toed Eagles.

 

A number of museums can be found within Rute. Museo del Manecado, Museo Artesanal del Turron, and Casa Museo del Jamon feature the three culinary treats within Rute - Anise Liqueur, Jamones, and Christmas candies. Casa Museo del Jamon is run by a former butcher who now spends his time detailing exactly how this popular treat is made.

 

A number of area churches attract tourists due to their remarkable architecture and the works of art that are located within. La Ermita de San Pedro houses the Gentleman of Humility statute, the famous work features Christ nailed to the cross. Luis Roldan's work of art, Virgin of the Carmen, is located in La Iglesia de la Vera Cruz and in El Santuario de la Patrona. La Parroquia de Santa Catalina houses many antiques and other important artifacts. In the old dressing room at Del Camarin Barroco de Nuestra Senora de la Cabeza is the famed picture of the Virgin del Populo. 

 

At the top of the hill in Rute tourists can view the old Moorish fortress, Rute el Viejo. There are a couple other historic buildings worth seeing. El Canuto, the watchtower, is where the Moorish soldiers kept watch over the town to spot intruders before they could advance. Finally, Castillo de Zambraq is an important structure used by the Romans.

 

On the outskirts of town, ADEBO, the International Donkey Sanctuary Protection Trust, has a large farm where abused donkeys are housed. Those interested in visiting the sanctuary are welcome to call for an appointment.

The small number of distilleries that produce the brandy made from aniseed are critical to the town's survival. Rute is one of a handful of towns in Southern Spain to have carved a niche creating local liqueurs to sell to visitors and locals.

 

With the bottled liqueurs comes the need for the glass bottles to store the anise brandy. Vidrierias Perez Campos, S.L. Is located in Rute and manufactures the glass bottles used for liqueur, wine, some foods, and perfumes. 

 

Finally, there are candy manufacturers, butchers, and other specialty stores that bring much needed revenue into the town.

Rute is popular for a number of delicious treats. The air-cured ham, Jamones, is a popular meat and can be sampled at the area's butchers. The salty treat is reminiscent of Italian prosciutto and perfect with a slab of crusty homemade bread. Olives grow throughout the region so olive oil and olives are also found in many of the stores and restaurants.

 

Aniseed thrives in the sunny climate. The licorice tinged spice is used to create a version of brandy that comes in either a sweet or dry format. This liqueur packs a punch, but it is incredibly satisfying. Tourists should take a bottle home. It is not expensive when purchased locally and can be hard to find in other countries. Altamirano, Arruza, Bombita, Triumph, Machaquito, Miguelin, Pepe Luis Vazquez, and Raza are the name brands to look for.

 

Finally, there are Christmas candies that are produced in Rute. Marzipan and nougat, rich in almond pieces and flavouring, are produced locally at both Garrido and La Flor de Rute. These treats can be purchased at the gift shop adjacent to the Museo Artesanal del Mantecado.

Tourists will find a couple of nice bars located right in town. Pub Miedo and Pub Poliedro are found on Calle Malaga and provide tourists with a cold drink and a chance to mingle with the locals. Those needing dance clubs or theatres will need to go to the larger cities. Restaurants are hard to find right in Rute, but heading to Antequera leads hungry travellers to a number of exceptional, affordable restaurants.

The streets of Rute, some cobbled, can be uneven. Tourists should use care while out strolling the streets, but it is important to take some time to wander the town. Houses often have vibrantly coloured flowers spilling from window boxes and flowers line the streets. The flowers fill the air with perfumed aromas, and the colours make for excellent photographs. While tourists can plan Rute to be a day-trip from larger cities, many find it is worthwhile to stay for a couple of days and enjoy the quieter environment.

 

Rute is fairly accessible from many larger cities. The N-331 brings tourists from Malaga or Cordoba connecting with either the A-331 or CO-210. The A-92 can be taken from Sevilla or Granada leading to the A-331. From the A-331, tourists need only follow the road signs that lead right into town.