Cortes de la Frontera lies tucked away in Málaga's interior, squeezed between two spectacular natural areas. This small white village attracts hikers, adventurers and nature lovers looking to escape the coastal crowds. Here you smell cork oaks, spot vultures and can explore caves. The surrounding mountains are perfect for speleology, canyoning and horse riding.
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Casarabonela: whitewashed village with mountain views and Moorish roots
In the village of Casarabonela, in the province of Málaga, there's a remarkable tower that’s more than just a structure. The Torre Chimenea was built at the end of the 19th century and played an important role in supplying electricity to the village. It was a key part of a hybrid power station that began providing electricity to the local population in 1901.
Smart use of water and heat
The station ran on two types of energy: hydroelectric and thermal. The water came from La Chorrera, a natural waterfall that powered a turbine. When water was scarce – which happened regularly in this dry area – they switched to an alternative source. In those cases, dynamos and a steam engine did the job. That steam engine was later replaced by a more modern diesel engine.
From Beneyto and Peris to Taillefer
The power station was originally owned by the entrepreneurs Beneyto and Peris. They took care of both the production and distribution of electricity in Casarabonela. In 1910, they handed things over to Taillefer, who continued managing the system. This way, the tower remained an essential part of the local energy history for years.
Why this structure still stands out
The Torre Chimenea is more than just a relic from the past. It’s a quiet but powerful symbol of technological progress in a mountain village where self-sufficiency used to be a necessity. And let’s be honest: an industrial chimney surrounded by whitewashed houses? You don’t see that every day.
(c) photo and source: www.casarabonela.es
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