There are places that have something magical. Find, more 41 years after shooting1 James Bond location Almost unchanged is almost a miracle for any film enthusiast and decorator. But these discoveries are worthy.
Cabo de Gata – Cabo de Gata Natural Park(Andalusia)
Loyalty: ★★★★– Access: ★☆☆
From the suburb of Malaga, where we stayed, we have to count close to 2h30 by road to reach this remote part of Andalusia. A sometimes monotonous journey through huge fields of agricultural greenhouses that seem never to end.
By entering the Cabo de Gata Nature ParkThe atmosphere changes immediately. The landscape becomes more wild, more mineral, almost unreal. Located in the extreme southeast of the Iberian peninsula, Cabo de Gata is probably one of the last remaining coastal areas in Spain.
Its isolated beaches, steep coves and lunar panoramas have served as a setting for several legendary productions such as James Bond, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade or the trilogy of Dollars of Sergio Leone.
Thanks to research by Thomas Gleitsmann, the first explorer of the site, I was able to find the exact location of the site. "Oasis" of Never Say Never Again, located only 200 meters from the seanear the village of Cabo de Gata.
The book by friend Philippe Lombard where we discover 1968 in the Andalusian desert, in Almería, with Brigitte Bardot and movie stars then.
The filming of this sequence took place in February 1983 with the second team. The arrival of Bond and Felix Leiter in XT-7B, as well as a cut scene involving the Kovacs beacon, were also shot in this area. And on the spot... Nothing has changed.
The remains of the well are still present today. The stones visible on the ground are the same as those installed by the film crew during the winter of 1983.
To illustrate this exceptional discovery, I share here a series of unpublished shooting photos, never published before, taken by Leslie Dilley, director of the film. These images show the different stages of the construction of the decor as well as the spectacular cascade carried out on the 13 February 1983 by Vic Armstrong, suspended from the helicopter harness.
I also added a aerial view of the location, allowing to situate the elements of the decor and the positions of the cameras used in the main shots. An absolutely unique moment, far from everything.
Los Escullos – Cabo de Gata Natural Park(Andalusia)
Loyalty: ★★★★ – Access: ★☆☆
About 30 minutes from the Oasis, across the Cabo de Gata Nature Parkis another iconic location of James Bond : Los Escullos. Only 200 meters from Castillo de San Felipe, magnificent 18th century fortress completely restored, is located the whole area used for the sequence where the XT-7B continue his flight after his ejection from the submarine.
On the day of our visit, a wind even more violent than the one suggested in the film welcomed us... making any XT-7B flight particularly risky. Despite some slight changes in the terrain caused by more than four decades of erosion, the landmarks are still there. The point where James Bond and Felix Leiter prepare for the dive corresponds exactly to the visible place in the superb introduction plan showing the two XT-7B in flight.
The site is now used by fishermen, as evidenced by the numerous waste found on site... Too bad. I also added several photos of filming archives thanks to the greatest lover and film specialist Eric Saussine, showing the installation of a crane used to simulate the flight — or more exactly landing — XT-7B during shooting.
The atmosphere on site remains absolutely incredible. It was my last James Bond spot in Andalusia on this second trip.
A big thank you to Simon Firth and Eric Saussine for the archival photos.
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This blog shares my travel experiences, from unavoidable destinations to the most original and exclusive places. Each article is the result of careful work and a real time investment. If you use this information elsewhere or for your own adventures, consider citing your sources and thanking – that's what I do myself, and it's always fun.
Julien Abauzit (JaBoz)
