The small country hotel Olivetum Colina is located on a small hill between picturesque olive groves and just 15 minutes from the small town of Montoro. Swiss couple Brigitte and Roger Schläpfer have fulfilled their dream of living in Spain here – in the heart of unspoilt Andalusia. And they allow their guests to share in their special lifestyle, in which slowing down and fresh, local cuisine play a major role. Travellers can look forward to a wonderful range of experiences, especially when it comes to olives, but Brigitte and Roger have also come up with other activities relating to the culinary arts and crafts in Montoro. In this short interview, Brigitte tells us more about her emigration story and what Geotoura guests can expect in this special place.

Dear Brigitte, first of all, thank you for taking the time for a short interview for our Geotoura travel journal. Perhaps you would like to introduce yourself briefly and tell us a bit about you and your family. And above all: How did you come from Switzerland to Andalusia and to your Olivetum Colina?

“A warm hello to all readers and Geotoura guests. I am very pleased to be able to give you an insight into our life in Andalusia and our small country hotel today. We – that’s Brigitte and Roger with our children Lilian, Olivia and Dominic. Our emigration story began in the classic way: Roger and I always had too much on our plate at work and we had little time for the family. It soon became clear that we wanted to treat ourselves to a family time-out, break away from the daily grind and allow our children to get to know new cultures – just as Roger and I had done when travelling for work. What was important to us when choosing the destination: a sunny climate, friendly people, politically stable, in Europe, a world language, a power place to slow down…and olives:) As a TCM therapist (Traditional Chinese Medicine), a healthy, sustainable lifestyle has always played a major role for me.

And so we came to Montoro, which lies in the centre of Andalusia, the largest olive-growing region in the world. We were immediately taken with a 200-year-old olive mill and so not only was our new home born, but also our dream of growing our own olives and having our own guest house: the Olivetum Colina . After several months of renovation work by ourselves, we got the mill up and running again and lovingly furnished seven additional guest rooms and a small restaurant. It was important to us to preserve the historic flair of the mill and still offer our guests the highest level of comfort. Since 2013, we have been welcoming guests to our little paradise in a real place of power.”

That sounds really exciting and magical. What exactly can travellers imagine when they hear the term ‘place of power’?

“Our guests always tell us that as soon as they get out of the car here, they leave everything else behind. The tranquillity, the scent, the 360-degree panoramic view of the hills and olive groves. We really are surrounded by millions of olive trees that are 300 to 500 years old, some even up to 1000 years old. The energy and power that these trees radiate is almost magical and pure relaxation. Our ‘only’ seven guest rooms also create a very relaxed, even familiar atmosphere. We always say: Our guests come as guests and leave as friends.”

The authentic experiences that Geotoura guests can book as a ‘pleasure package’ as part of their stay with you are also part of this familiar atmosphere. What exactly can guests expect from these experiences?

“Bringing our guests closer to the ‘real’ Andalusia is very important to us.To do this, we take them to our favourite places, to the places where real life takes place: A visit to the weekly market followed by a stop at a rustic tapa bar or a visit to a bull farm in Montoro, for example. At our hotel, we also offer great additional services, such as a paella evening or olive oil tastings.”

Olive oil is a very good keyword. You manage your own olive grove with 300 olive trees and produce your own sustainable olive oil. The olive harvest – which just took place again in October – is certainly an absolute highlight for you and your guests, isn’t it?

“Absolutely. Early in autumn, usually in mid-October, we harvest our Picual olives by hand together with friends. Our guests are always fascinated to be there. On the one hand to watch the harvest, but also to help out if they wish, to go along to the mill and observe what needs to be taken care of. It’s an authentic experience that is absolutely typical of the country.”

What do you pay attention to when harvesting the olives and what makes your olive oil particularly sustainable and high quality?

“We do everything we can to ensure that only healthy, high-quality olives are collected. We then take the fresh fruit straight to the mill, where we closely monitor and check the processing procedure. Roger is actively involved in every step. This ensures that our olives are cold-extracted and that our olive oil is rich in health-promoting ingredients. The levels of natural antioxidants, oleic acids, polyphenols and vitamin E in our olive oil are well above average. It is very aromatic and complex on the nose with notes of freshly cut grass, tomato leaves, green banana and basil. On the palate and especially on the throat, it has a clear pungency and a good harmonious bitter note – an important indicator of quality and balance. Our organic olive oil Olivetum Colina virgen extra riquessa is considered by experts to be in the top class of olive oils and is a MUST for connoisseurs.”

So autumn is a very special time in Andalusia and on your property, especially from a culinary point of view. Do you have a personal favourite season and can you give our travellers a tip or two?

“As you say, the olive harvest in autumn is very fascinating. But actually, every season in Andalusia has its charm: in spring (from the end of March) we already have wonderful temperatures here, nature is still very green (here it’s exactly the opposite of Germany: green in winter, brown and dry in summer 😊) and the pool invites you to swim from as early as April. A wonderful time to combine nature and culture.”

“From Semana Santa (from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday), many festivals and cultural events take place. The Semana Santa processions are an authentic blend of culture and tradition, as are the ferias (town festivals), when the Spaniards arrive on horseback and the ladies stroll around in their flamenco dresses. Especially in Montoro – away from the crowds of tourists – you can ‘celebrate’ with the locals, the Romerías (pilgrimages by carriage) and the flower festival in May in Córdoba are also well worth seeing.”

Thank you very much for the short interview, dear Brigitte!

We hope that this interview has given you a good insight into authentic Andalusia. Perhaps you have also been inspired to discover the Olivetum and other hidden treasures of Andalusia on a personalised round trip . Take a look at our sample itineraries and let them inspire you.

Photos: Olivetum Colina