Galería del Bandolero — Attraction in El Borge

Walk through the beautiful gates of this museum and you are greeted by a striking building set up high in the mountain village of El Borge . To your left is a living foliage wall of sustainable plants and flowers, you have to admire its beauty and the care and attention to maintain it. In the grounds is a small typical spainish casa surrounded by roses , used as a backdrop for special themed events during the year. Enter the museum and you are immediately transported back to the 18th-19th century a time when bandits ruled the surrounding mountainous area, they lived outside the law, by thieving, torturing, vile acts, but they also had a romantic image and helped the poorest in society. The spainish music sets the mood as you get the chance to truly understand how these bandits conducted their lives, through original documents, books, clothing, guns and knives, you get to see the first “rogue’s gallery” photos of the most wanted men and women bandits and it’s not a pretty sight! This is not just a museum that you walk around on your own , the museum is managed by a local man born and raised in El Borge called Ismael Fernandez, he creates a true experience from the moment you enter, he is so passionate and knowledgeable about the museum and his job, he takes you on a journey back in time through his humour, chilling facts , dark stories, romantic tales, he encourages you to interact with him, even getting the opportunity to dress in bandit clothing, hold the guns and have fun while having great photos taken of your visit. He really makes the whole experience come alive and is a real asset to the museum, Be sure to visit the village of El Borge , it’s breathtaking , the locals welcome you with genuine warmth. The hotel was once home to one of the most famous cross eyed bandits. Remember to put this museum experience on the top of your list when visiting this unique area...

Hope I have the name right here, but Ismael (the guy behind the counter) gave me the best service I've gotten on my 2 weeks stay in Spain. You couldn't ask for a nicer person to welcome you to this beautiful and very historically interesting museum. The price was insanely cheap and the museum was top notch in all its aspects. Just going here go say Hello to Ismael is worth the whole trip. The guy gave me tips and recommendations for my future travels, as he is a local of Andalusia and it's beautiful countryside. Told me a little about himself and asked me some things. Again, the coolest and nicest dude you can imagine. Many thanks for letting me visit....

Museografia limpia y minimalista en una atmosfera agradable, que intercala figuraciones con muñecos, vitrinas con objetos (edictos, denuncias, etc ) y paneles con textos muy bien redactados que nos sitúan de forma clara en el contexto. Yo diría que técnicamente correcto pero aún así, le falta un poco de alma. También hay una sala de proyecciones y unas estanterías con bibliografía monográfica lo cual me pareció fantástico. El museo nos habla del origen del bandolerismo en el S.XIX, personajes que después de formar parte de las guerrillas contra los invasores franceses y adquirir fama de héroes entre el pueblo, se dedican a asaltar viajeros y carruajes, formando un interesante grupo de personajes que junto a contrabandistas y venteros, nos muestra muy bien la antigua serie Curro Jiménez. Gracias a escritores como Alejandro Dumas, Lord Byron o Washington Irving, la figura del bandolero adquiere un tinte romántico y traspasa las fronteras internacionales generando rutas específicas por las serranías y montes de la zona. Hay una sección específica para las bandoleras, que también las hubo, aunque no tan renombradas por su condición de mujer. En fin, si no fuera porque el precio de la página web es inferior al precio en mostrador (de 3 a 5€) y porque todavía le falta algo de recorrido al personal que atiende, le habría...