4 – 11 May 2024
When: 4 – 11 May 2024
Where: Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
Map: Jerez de la Frontera on Google Maps
Website: https://www.jerez.es/especiales/feria-del-caballo
Hotels: Hotels in Jerez de la Frontera
The heritage of horse breeding culminates in the annual festival of the horses, Feria del Caballo, celebrated in Jerez every year in May.
Although fairs have taken place in Jerez since the Middle Ages, the Domecq family of sherry fame initiated the fair in 1955 as it is today.
The vast Gonzalez Hontoria Park is the venue for daily shows and parades.
During Feria del Caballo, you can watch cowboy and classical dressage, riding competitions and polo, but the highlight is the parade of carriages, also known as enganches.
English, Hungarian, Russian and Spanish style carriages, richly decorated, are paraded around the park and then along the streets.
They culminate in the carousel, where the carriages and horses that draw them turn in unison and choreograph circles.
A masterpiece of horsemanship accompanied by the sound of cracking whips and jingling bells.
More than 200 casitas or little stalls offer great food, and of course, sherry and fino liven up the festive atmosphere.
Gipsies used to come to entertain people with their horse tricks for money.
Today they are scarce, but everybody who can get hold of a horse and a traditional outfit joins in the parade.
Jerez is also the seat of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, and every Tuesday and Thursday, you can watch a performance of a veritable display of dancing horses.
Moreover, the splendid 19th century Palacio de las Cadenas holds a museum of everything to do with horses.
Reserve a week in May to experience a festival that could not be more Spanish in style.
Many good hotels with spas and beautiful surroundings in Jerez de la Frontera.
You can choose among Hotels, Apartments, Guesthouses, Bed and Breakfast.
Prices are very high in Jerez de la Frontera during Feria de Caballo, so a good option is to stay in Cadiz and have your hotel there, and you will explore another lovely city at the same time.
You get to Jerez de la Frontera from Cadiz by train in just 31 – 45 minutes.
Check when the last train goes back, so you don’t miss it.
If you prefer to stay by the beach and take day trips from there, we can recommend Hipotels Barrosa Palace & Spa in Novo Sancti Petri, just 35 kilometres from Jerez de la Frontera.
This city is located halfway between the sea and the mountains in the Province of Cadiz/Andalucia,
It is famous for two things: sherry and horses.
Horses have been bred in the south of Spain for ages.
They crossed the Spanish horse with purebred Arabian horses to obtain the best race.
First for the military and now for sport and dressage.
Rock in Rio, Lisbon, Portugal. 15 – 16 and 22 – 23 June 2024