Tourism Líjar – Almería

Located 86 kilometers from the capital, Líjar is accessed by the road to the Sierra de Macael, taking the detour at the junction of Chercos. There is a bus service between this town and Almería.

Perhaps the most picturesque historical curiosity of this municipality is found in the archives of its City Council, in the minutes of October 14, 1883, where the session agreed to “declare war on the French Nation”, in response to the grievances received by the king Alfonso XII in his visit to Paris a few weeks before; the “war” lasted until the signing of the Treaty of Peace (October 30, 1983), signed by the mayor of this town, the consul of France in Malaga and the vice-consul of this country in Almeria.

Monuments that deserve a detained visit are the Parochial Church (XVII century) and the Shrine of the Virgin of Fatima.

The most important festivals are San Antones (January 17), where traditional bonfires are lit, the Fiestas de San Blas (1-3 February), Holy Week and the Pilgrimage of the Virgin of Fatima. From September 9, coinciding with the patron saint festivities, the Cultural Week is celebrated The Lijonazo, with sports activities, chess, music bands and the camping and excursion Sendero del Poyo

The human presence in the area since prehistory is known. Like other lands of Andalusia, it suffered the occupation of the Carthaginians and the Romans, attracted by the mineral wealth of the region. With the Arab occupation, agriculture is given more importance and mining activity is reduced. In the Muslim era Almeria had a good industry of fine fabrics, such as linen and silk. In a count of 1846 25 looms were counted in Líjar, but this artisan sector did not last in the 20th century.

The War against France (1883-1983)
Between July 1870 and January 1871 a war between France and Prussia took place, and the triumph of the Prussians served to complete the German unification. The defeat was of great importance for France, which counted 140,000 dead Gauls. The Spanish monarch Alfonso XII made a trip in September 1883 to France, Germany, Austria and Belgium.

In Berlin, a gala banquet with Bismarck, praised the Prussian cause and hinted that Germany would have the support of Spain in the case of a new war against France. He was also elected as honorary colonel of the garrison of Uhlans in Alsace, which was a German territory claimed by France. On his return he passed through Paris in his Prussian uniform and was received by the staff of the French government as well as by a good number of French citizens. The monarch suffered a rain of insults, boos and were thrown some stone and other objects of citizens. On his return to Madrid, the monarch was greeted by a large crowd of Spaniards who cheered him in support and for that relief from the French the municipal corporation of Líjar decided at that time to declare war on France.

There were no major war incidents and on October 30, 1983, after 100 years of bloodless war, peace was signed between Lebanon and France. By representation of the Gallic country, the consul and vice consul of France in Malaga and Almeria attended, and on behalf of Líjar the mayor Diego Sánchez Cortés. The following peace act was signed:

In the town of Líjar, province of Almería, being twelve hours of the day thirty of October of one thousand nine hundred and eighty three. Gathered in the public square of this town, on the one hand the representatives of the French Nation, on the people of the consul and vice-consul of Malaga and Almeria, and on the other the Municipal Corporation of the City Council of Líjar, presided over by its Mayor D. Diego Sánchez Cortes, being exceptional witnesses civil and military authorities of the province.
It is agreed to sign the Peace between Líjar and France, after one hundred years of bloodless war, declared by this City Council on October fourteen, one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
And to record the sign on one hand the representatives of the French State, and on the other the Municipal Corporation of the City of Líjar, signing as civilian and military authorities of the province and all the population of Líjar, as witnesses of exception, of what I secretary certify.

The lijareños have a great variety of agricultural and livestock products that they have been able to take advantage of over the centuries to enrich their diet, basing their main ingredients on those good products that they have been harvesting in their gardens and raising in their corrals. Thus, we can enjoy today a very rich, healthy and extensive cuisine.

As a result of a program carried out by the Regional Commission of Culture of the Marble of recovery of traditions, the idea arose to elaborate a recipe book, collecting the recipes of the typical foods of the town and plasmándolas them in a book, thus avoiding that they are lost and trying that they are kept as closely as possible to their original elaboration.

Antonio Zapata, important Almerian gourmet, has been in charge of the direction, which has been based on the recipes that have been explained to him by the members of the local adult school.