Lajares is a village in the north of the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands; this village is in the middle of a desert country where economic resources are low: the plots of arable land - hard-earned on extended volcanic scoria - were abandoned; the operation of the red dye produced by scale insects living on prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) - thriving in the nineteenth century - has been abandoned; likewise, the culture of sisal agave - for export of the fiber was extracted - launched by Franco’s government in the 1950s, was also abandoned after the invention of synthetic fibers. To help underdeveloped island, the Francoist state also launched the surface mining of pozzolan used by agriculture, but this operation is in decline. It remains in the locality that raising goats - which few people live - and the impact of sports tourism: Los Lajares is indeed located halfway between two seaside resorts where water sports are practiced: Corralejo at east and El Cotillo west. Around this activity are created surf shops, accommodation and eating places for fans of these sports.
The town has about 1,700 inhabitants and is part of the municipality of La Oliva.
Lajares is located immediately south of the malpaís, the Plaguelands covered with lava and volcanic slag produced by volcanoes north of Fuerteventura. The location is at the intersection of roads that run along the malpaís, the road FV-109 from Corralejo 12 km) and FV-10 road from La Oliva (9 km) and continuing El Cotillo (to 8 km).
From the village of Lajares few hikes are possible to nearby volcanoes: the Montaña Colorada (244 m) whose sides were gutted for the operation of picón a red pozzolan used by the culture technique of the enarenado (ensablage of crops to maintain soil moisture); the Calderón Hondo (“Cauldron Deep”) (278 m), a large crater; the Caldera de Rebanada the Caldera Encantada and, further, near Corralejo, the crater Bayuyo (269 m). The departure of these hikes can be done from the road that connects Lajares in the hamlet of Majanicho, located at the north of the island; Road Majanicho part of the whereabouts of the bus line No. 7 and the football field. After 1 km on the road it forks right onto the Camino de las Calderas (marked path of small excursion FV SL-2).
Los Lajares is crossed by the old road from La Oliva to El Cotillo, the Calle General; the old village center is located on this road, in the upper district, named Casas de Arriba (from above houses), located between the new FV-10 road and the FV-109 road. In this district is the village church, St. Anthony of Padua Church (Ermita de San Antonio de Padua), a modest church of neo-Gothic style of the twentieth century.
In the new center, on the FV-109 road, is the Canarian crafts school (Escuela de Artesanía Canaria) which is taught the art of traditional embroidery “calado”.
The main cultural attraction Lajares is the existence of two windmills, last witnesses of the cereals. These mills are located on the low-rise neighborhood Casas de Arriba, near the church of St. Anthony. The first of these mills is a traditional type of mill Castilian, dating from the seventeenth century, a “male” mill (molino), a massive construction of three levels, made of dark volcanic stones; the second mill is located on the other side of Calle General: it is a “female” mill (molina), with the wooden mechanism placed outside the building.
The kite school Kiteschool Magma operates in El Cotillo and Corralejo but has a shop and a studio in Lajares, the Magma Surf Shop. School created by the French Achille, teaching is - among other languages - in French.
Courses, sale and rental of equipment for surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing ... Also offers accommodation for athletes and others.
The Patio de Lajares is an elegant country inn run by a German chef and his wife trusted name. The cuisine is international, with German and Spanish influences, but from local products. The hotel also offers 6 rooms with balcony (all inclusive board for about 200 €).
Gourmet menu: € 39.50; to the card 50 to 63 €.
Hours: lunch from 13 am to 15 pm; for dinner, from 19 am to 22 pm. Closed on monday and tuesday. Reservations recommended.
Situation.jpg "The village of Lajares in Fuerteventura. Volcano northeast of Lajares (author Frank Vincentz). Click to enlarge the image.")
Visits
The village of 
.jpg "The village of Lajares in Fuerteventura. Windmill (author H. Zell). Click to enlarge the image.")
Practical information
Other topics
