Municipality located in the southeast of the province, in the Sierras Subbéticas, included in the Natural Park of the Sierra Subbética, which presents a relief of strong limestone elevations and valleys populated with holm oaks, gall oaks and white poplars on the banks of the watercourses. The main agricultural activity is the cultivation of olive groves. In its municipal area is part of the Iznájar reservoir, which contributes to the landscape an element of great scenic interest.
The village extends at the foot of the Sierra de Rute, formed by sloping streets, white houses and clean, offering a very attractive and integrated into the environment. It is also known for the production of liquors and spirits.
Its origin is probably Arab. Of the antiquity of the place speak their tombstones and Roman tombs found in the village, although from prehistoric times there are documented two sites: La Cueva Negra and El Camorro.
It is under Muslim rule until 1240 when it is conquered by Ferdinand III, again lost to be reconquered by Alfonso XI who populated it with Christians. Around 1315, during the civil wars of Castile, the town was left unguarded and was attacked by Ozmir, who conquered it and held it until 1341. It will be lost again and will be definitively conquered by Ramir Sánchez de Barrionuevo, to whom King Juan II gives it in merced (1434).
Ramir Sanchez moved the site of the town to the place it occupies today.
The son of Ramir Sánchez will lose the lordship of Rute for disloyalty to the Crown, giving it to Enrique III in 1466 to Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Count of Cabra, as a reward for the help given in the capture of Ecija; Juan Fernández de Córdoba, dean of the Cathedral of Córdoba, will inherit the town as an entailed estate to the lords of Baena and counts of Cabra and Sesa.
Prominent personalities
Mariano Roldán, poet and journalist (1932).
Juan de Aguilar, pedagogue (1577-1634).
Alfonso de Castro Hurtado, ruler (1732-1799).
The Sugar Museum At Christmas time and in Rute, an artisan and confectionery town in the Subbética region, the Sugar Museum of La Flor de Rute has become an indispensable visit.
Founded more than three decades ago, it presents more than thirty pieces of sugar and considerable size, including reproductions of Andalusian monuments, the Euro Disney Castle or the Basilica of St. Peter. In addition to these sugary buildings, there are life-size figures of the Duchess of Alba or painters, such as Picasso or Dalí, as well as different sweet paintings, advertising posters or a reproduction of the soccer World Cup, all made of sugar.
But the Sugar Museum is much more: go back in time with the recreation of an old sugar factory while you walk among utensils, old machinery or curiosities, such as the autographs of illustrious consumers (Rafael Alberti, Florinda Chico, Camilo José Cela, Julia Otero or Siempre Así). Enjoy the free tasting offered to visitors, see greeting letters from Japan, Cuba, Australia or the United States and do not be surprised if at some point you meet some of the famous and colorful characters who have already visited us.
Museums of the anisette brandy of Rute and Spain Located in Rute, the 'Museums of the anisette brandy of Rute and Spain' expose the true history of the most important drink in the world, since it has been made in more than 3,000 villages throughout Spain, in more than 10,000 distilleries and, of course, with more than 20,000 different brands of aniseed.
The basis of the museums is the exhibition of 8,000 pieces and 6,000 brands of aniseed although, at any time, visitors will be able to see new pieces, as currently they only exhibit 25% of the total collection they have on this drink.
The Museums of anisette brandy in Rute and Spain also offer something different: the history of Spanish posters, the history of the bottle, the lithographic label, lithographers, graphic arts and advertising (what we know today as Spanish marketing).
The museums represent the 52 Spanish provinces and even the former national colonies.
They have a specialized guide and parking in the vicinity of the museums.
They exhibit, among other curious facts, the first poster made in Spain with an unpublished date for historians: 1820; orders of brandy in Reales de Vellón, the oldest known (1846); and the oldest bottle of pure wine brandy that currently exists in the world. Thus up to 8,000 pieces of outstanding interest.
Rute Ham Museum
In Rute, the Casa Museo del Jamón de Jamones Rute is a dream come true. The company was founded by the Jiménez family more than 60 years ago and, during all this time, has been storing the different tools that have fallen into disuse due to technical advances. Today they form an excellent and faithful exhibition of the history of the charina and the elaboration of the most artisan ham.
Respect for tradition and love for these "tasks" have given rise to an excellent museum that compiles all the tools related to this activity.
The Museo del Jamón has several beautiful ceramic mosaics depicting artistic scenes related to this activity, such as the "slaughter" of the pig. They were created by the artist Tomás Egea Azcona.
"... and if the convalescence suffers, a few slices of ham from Rute, will save us", Miguel de Cervantes "The Deceptive Marriage".
The Distillery Museum of Anis Machaquito Located in Rute and founded in 1876 Destilerías Machaquito offers guided and self-guided tours to the oldest active distillery in Spain. Industrial tourism in its purest form. Destilerías Machaquito offers you an immersion in a set of experiences and experiences that will activate your senses and will make you travel through the history of the art of making distillates, from its beginnings until today, when this prestigious distillery in Rute is at the forefront of the sector.
#You will see... the fire of the boilers, with 2 tons of olive wood heating 4 gigantic and centenary copper stills that, in cycles of 24 hours, distill the inimitable Anís de Rute.
During the visit you can visit the stills room, the liquor maceration room, the bottling room, the tasting room, the woodshed and the Machaquito Exhibition.
Among its diverse offerings, it is worth mentioning the a la carte tastings of liqueurs and mixed drinks and the a la carte catering to celebrate events. Reservations are required for both.