COSTA
OCCIDENTAL - OJEN INFORMATION
The town lies between the Sierra Alpujata and
the Sierra Blanca (behind Marbella), its highlight being El Juanar
Valley, an area of immense natural beauty.
The town itself, surrounded by orchards, still retains its original
Arabic layout, with houses built on different levels to accomodate
the mountainside on which they stand, and is considered to be one
of the most beautiful in the province. Relics of its past include
the remains of Solis Fortress and the Mudejar-style Our Lady’s
Church.
History
Ojen dates back to the Andalusi-Arabic period, when it was known as
Oxen or Hoxan, meaning “rugged place”.
Records tell us that in front of the town walls -now gone- Abderraman
III’s troops fought with the muladíes (Christian converts
to Islam) led by Omar Ben Hafsun in rebellion against the dominance
of the Emirate of Cordoba. Having defeated the muladíes, Caliph
Abderraman III ordered the building of a mosque as proof of Moslem
supremacy over Christian converts.
Following the town ’s capture by the Catholic Monarchs, one
hundred moriscos (Moslem converts to Christianity) and four Christians
remained, all of whom were devoted to agricultural tasks. However,
by the mid 16th century, moriscos had grown tired of the abusive taxes
which they were obliged to pay, and, encouraged by the inhabitants
of Istan, set fire to the village and its church and fled to the Alpujarra
area. By the end of the same century, the village was practically
abandoned.
In 1600, it was repopulated by settlers from La Roda de Andalucia.
In 1807, it was declared an independent town by Charles IV.
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