Description
Worth seeing besides Jaén, the capital of the province with its Renaissance cathedral, are Baeza and Úbeda, also towns with many Renaissance and Gothic. Close to these there is the Sierra de Cazorla, Segura und Las Villas, the largest Natural Park of the Iberian peninsula, where the Guadalquivir and the Segura rivers source. The most important village of the natural park is Cazorla, but also are worth visiting La Iruela, Hornos and Segura de la Sierra.

Itinerary
From the province capital Jaén to Baeza, Úbeda and Cazorla and finally reaching the Natural Park of Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas.

Time needed
From 2 to 3 days. The natural park can be traversed within one day.

Distance
approx.200 kilometers / 130 miles, therefrom half of it inside the park. There are several possible excursions.

Best travel season
Spring and early Summer (April to June) and Autumn (September to November). During July and August the climate is bearable in the higher mountain ranges.

Landscape an protected areas
This route combines several types of landscapes. Around the city of Jaén we find large olive groves. The village of Baza is situated in the Guadalquivir valley and in the Natural Park of Sierra de Cazorla we find green forests with many kinds of pines, oaks and wild olive trees. The sierra reaches an altitude of more than 2000 meters / 6,500 feet, source of the Guadalquivir and the Segura river. In its middle there is the water reservoir Tranco de Beas with a small island and the wild animal park of Bujaraiza.

Parque Natural de las Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas
The biggest natural park of Spain (214.336 hectares). There are 23 villages in this territory (information centre in Burunchel/La Iruela) and a surprising quantity of species of animals and plants can be found there. Unique are the Cazorla-Violet, the carnivorous plant "Grassilla de Andalucía" or the small Valverde lizard.

Tourist information

Accommodation

Many hotels and hostels in Jáen, Baeza and Úbeda, and in the natural park mainly in Cazorla and Segura de la Sierra.
Also many campsites on the main road inside the park.

Activities

Feasts/Festivals

Patron Saint Feasts / Ferias

almost each town celebrates its own patron saint, a procession and/or its "feria" (fair).

Pilgrimages - "Romerías"

Others

Jaén  (Miles 0; 116,560 inhabitants)
The capital of the province. Worth seeing are the Arab Baths and the Renaissance Cathedral.

Baeza  (Miles 28; 16,250 inhabitants) and
Úbeda  (Miles 33; 35,650 inhabitants)
They are, apart from the capital, the most important populations of the province. Many Gothic and Renaissance buildings.

Cazorla (Miles 60; 8,130 inhabitants)
regional centre, situated between the castles La Yedra and Cinco Esquinas Ruins of the Santa María church and a fountain Fuente de las Cadenas. Town hall and the church of San Francisco from the 17th century.

La Iruela (Miles 62; 1,980 inhabitants)
on the highest point of the village (views!!) there are remains of an important castle. In the center of the village there is the Renaissance church Santa Domingo

Vadillo Castril (Miles 72; 80 Inhabitants)
crossing of several highways. Excursion to the Parador Hotel (5 Miles), to the spring of the Guadalquivir river (approx. 13 Miles) or to the animal park Nava de San Pedro (10 Miles)

Torre de Vinagre (Miles 83; visitor’s and information centre)
on the main road of the natural park. Nearby there is a fishfarm (troutfarm)

Collado del Almendral (Miles 92)
animal park close to Bujaraiza, located on the southern edge of the water reservoir Tranco de Beas. Animal watching is possible.

Tranco (Miles 99;)
beautiful set on the highest point of the water reservoir Tranco de Beas in the middle of the Sierra de Segura

Hornos (Miles 109; 680 inhabitants)
picturesque village with the ruins of a Moorish castle. Good views of the water reservoir and over the Guadalquivir valley. Excursion to Santiago-Pontones (approx. 18 Miles) with the cueva del nacimiento (archaeological findings)

Segura de la Sierra (Miles 123;
2,050 inhabitants)
one of the most beautiful villages of the Sierra. Good views from the Mudéjar style castle to the Sierra de Segura and the Sierra Morena.

What may be visited after or before these plans:

- Granada and Sierra Nevada
- Córdoba 
- Route of the Caliphate