There are plenty of reasons to visit Andalusia. There are the whitewashed villages, the Moorish architecture, the mountains around Ronda and the long, winding roads through the countryside. And then there is Júzcar, a tiny village that decided it would rather be blue.
Tucked into the Genal Valley in the Serranía de Ronda, Júzcar looks almost unreal against the surrounding green hills. Its houses, church and other buildings are painted in a bright shade of blue, making it one of the most unusual villages in southern Spain. But this was not always the case.
Until 2011, Júzcar was a typical pueblo blanco, its buildings covered in white limewash like many other villages in Andalusia. Then a Hollywood film changed everything.
How Júzcar Became Blue
In 2011, Sony Pictures was looking for an unusual setting to promote The Smurfs 3D. Júzcar, with its small size and isolated location among the mountains, seemed like the perfect fit. The village was transformed with nearly 4,000 litres of blue paint, covering around 175 buildings, including the historic Church of Santa Catalina.
The idea was never supposed to last. The agreement was that the village would be painted white again six months after the film's release. But the publicity stunt brought an extraordinary number of visitors to Júzcar. Reports at the time put the number at around 80,000 in the six months after the transformation, compared with only a few hundred visitors in an ordinary year.
For a village of just a couple of hundred residents, the difference was impossible to ignore. So the residents were given a choice. In December 2011, they voted on whether Júzcar should return to white or stay blue. The result was decisively in favour of keeping the new colour.
From Smurf Village To Blue Village
For a while, Júzcar fully embraced its new identity. The village was decorated with Smurf murals and statues, and events were organised around the characters. It became known as el pueblo pitufo, or the Smurf Village, and even hosted events connected to the franchise.
That association, however, did not last forever. Later, disagreements over the use of the Smurf name and characters led to the removal of the themed statues, murals and other official references. The village could keep its colour, but it could no longer freely market itself around someone else's characters.
Today, Júzcar is known officially as La Aldea Azul, or the Blue Village. The Smurfs are no longer the main attraction, but the blue buildings remain. In a way, Júzcar ended up keeping the most important part of the experiment: the thing that made people look twice in the first place.
What To See In Júzcar
You do not need a full day to explore the village. Júzcar is tiny, and a few hours is enough to walk through its streets, take in the views and stop for a meal or coffee.
The first thing you will notice is, of course, the colour. Walk through the narrow streets and look beyond the obvious postcard views. Blue walls sit against terracotta roofs, green hills and the occasional patch of flowers. The Church of Santa Catalina is particularly striking, having been painted blue along with the rest of the village.
There are also remnants of the village's playful past, although visitors should not arrive expecting a full Smurf theme park. Júzcar today is much quieter and more about the unusual setting than the cartoon characters that first made it famous.
For a different side of the village, stop at the Mushroom Museum, which explores the fungi found in the surrounding area. It is an especially fitting attraction for Júzcar, given the connection between the forest setting, mushrooms and the world that inspired the Smurfs.
Look Beyond The Blue Walls
Júzcar sits in a landscape that is arguably as interesting as the village itself. The surrounding Genal Valley is covered with chestnut trees, forests and mountain trails.
One of the most beautiful times to visit is autumn, when the chestnut forests turn shades of copper and gold. The area is known locally as the Bosque de Cobre, or Copper Forest, and the change in colour makes the journey through the valley particularly scenic.
There are also walking routes around the village, including the Molinos Trail, while more adventurous travellers can head towards Sima del Diablo for canyoning and other outdoor activities.
For history lovers, the remains of the old Fábrica de Hojalata, or tinplate factory, offer another reason to explore beyond the centre. Júzcar's industrial history goes back to the 18th century, when the area became home to what is described as Spain's first tinplate factory.
The Information
Getting There
Júzcar is best reached by car. The village sits in the mountains, and the final stretch involves winding roads through the Serranía de Ronda. It is roughly a 30-minute drive from Ronda, although mountain roads mean the journey can take longer than the distance suggests. From Málaga, expect a considerably longer drive.
Once you arrive, leave the car at the parking area outside the village and explore on foot. The streets are steep and narrow, so comfortable shoes are a good idea.
Júzcar works particularly well as a stop on a wider Andalusian road trip. You could combine it with Ronda or the unusual cliffside village of Setenil de las Bodegas rather than making the journey solely for Júzcar.
When To Go
Morning or late afternoon is ideal, particularly in summer when the Andalusian sun can be intense. The softer light also makes the blue buildings look more interesting against the surrounding landscape.
If you want to see Júzcar at its most colourful, autumn is worth considering for the nearby Copper Forest. The village itself is small enough to explore in a couple of hours, but the surrounding countryside gives you a reason to stay longer.
FAQs
1. Why is Júzcar in Spain painted blue?
Júzcar was painted blue in 2011 as part of Sony Pictures’ promotion for The Smurfs 3D. Nearly 4,000 litres of blue paint were used on around 175 buildings in the village.
2. Is Júzcar still blue?
Yes. Although the original plan was to repaint Júzcar white after the film’s release, residents voted in December 2011 to keep the village blue.
3. Where is Júzcar?
Júzcar is in the Genal Valley in the Serranía de Ronda mountains of Andalusia, southern Spain.
4. Is Júzcar still called the Smurf Village?
Júzcar was promoted as a Smurf Village after being painted blue, but later disagreements over the use of the Smurf name and characters led to official themed elements being removed. The village is now known as La Aldea Azul, or the Blue Village.
5. Is Júzcar worth visiting?
Júzcar is a small village that can be explored in a few hours. Its blue-painted buildings, surrounding mountain landscape, walking routes and unusual history make it an interesting stop on an Andalusian road trip.
