The best traffic-free bike rides around La Rambla

The municipality was founded under the leadership of the enlightened Pablo de Olavide and, by 1767, had a Central European population. Funded by the state at the request of King Charles III, the colonization was intended to promote agriculture and industry in an uninhabited area threatened by bandits, as well as to increase the security of the royal road connecting Madrid with Cadiz. Initially, the municipality belonged administratively to La Carlota, which, along with other municipalities, was also founded on this occasion.

Sebastian, and Easter eggs. It's safe to say that San Sebastián's colonial and "German" roots are still very present among its residents today, and they are often proud of them, so much so that even the local first name is "Sebastianenses" or "Alemanes." But... what about the language? Why has nothing of the language of these settlers survived to this day? The majority of the population was, of course, German, since the French settlers also came from German-speaking areas. It is believed that the first settlers and their children spoke exclusively German. However, when they came into contact with the locals, they had to learn Spanish. Therefore, it is quite possible that for several decades they spoke German among themselves, especially at home, and Spanish on the street or at work. Certainly, there were German expressions used when speaking Spanish, or words from both languages were mixed when speaking (as happens today in Gibraltar, where they speak the famous "Spanglish," a mixture of English and Spanish). Over the years and across generations, the German language fell into disuse until, almost 250 years later, it reached what it is today. It is striking that (at least as far as I know) there is not a single vernacular word or expression in German or of German origin. Proof that German expressions continued to exist in everyday life even when the Sebastianians spoke Spanish was provided to me by a good friend from the city named Sebastian. This man, about 55 years old, remembers how, when he was very young, his grandmother, who was already very old, fed the chickens instead of calling them with a voice of "PITAS, PITAS, PITAS!" He called them in German: KOMM, KOMM, KOMM! (come, come, come).

The information panel indicates the start of the Route of the Germans, from the Landscapes with History programme. The Pozo del Agua Buena, on the street of the same name, is the starting point of our route and one of the 5 wells that already existed in San Sebastián de los Ballesteros at the time of its foundation.

Municipality founded in 1767 with a Central European population, mainly from Germany, when the 57 families took possession of these lands. Artistic and monumental heritage: the King's mill, the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Town that belongs to the Montilla-Moriles Wine Route. Being agriculture its axis of economic activity thanks to the fertility of its lands, among its main crops are garlic, onion, olive and melon.

The traditional pottery of La Rambla is world famous. Pottery production was a trade of which remains have been preserved for 4,000 years. If you are on La Rambla, don't miss out on visiting a ceramic craft workshop.

Undoubtedly the best known of Montalbán are its garlic, being the largest producer in Andalusia and bringing together no less than 37% of the production of this vegetable in the entire European Union. This also makes it interesting to get to know its gastronomy, where gazpacho, chopped oranges, salmorejo, raw sardines, boronia (stew made from dried broad beans with aubergines), sopaipas, pestiños and porridge stand out.

Pottery city par excellence, many of its workshops can be visited and even learn about the techniques used. Architecturally, the slender Tower of the Nuns, which has recently been restored, surprises with its height.