Jafre, Cultural heritage site in Olivella, Spain.
Jafre is an abandoned village settlement in Olivella situated on a hilltop, featuring the remains of a former manor house, worker residences, and the Church of Santa Maria. The church itself has a simple rectangular nave built from limestone blocks and remains the most intact structure on the site.
The location has been documented since 1139 and takes its name from the Arabic term Gâfar, with the first mention of a castle appearing in records from 1332. The settlement served as a center of rural life for centuries before eventually being abandoned.
The Church of Santa Maria de Jafre stands as the spiritual center of what was once a working village tied to farming and faith. The structure reflects how rural communities organized their lives around religion and the land.
The site can be reached on foot through the surrounding countryside and remains in a quiet, undisturbed state. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended when exploring the old church and abandoned houses, as some structures require caution when approached.
The last residents departed in 1964, bringing to an end over five centuries of continuous habitation at this location. The remains from the burial ground were transferred to the municipal cemetery of Olivella shortly after the site was abandoned.
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