In Hornachuelos, you can combine hiking trails of varying lengths with a remarkable historical heritage. The routes range in duration from about 30 minutes to several hours, while the town’s history spans from the Caliphate period to the construction of a church in the early 16th century. You can plan your stay around whether you would like to spend more time outdoors or exploring architectural history.

Hiking trails by duration and landscape

The Sendero del Cambuco is a 2.3-kilometre linear route along the bed of the Guadalvacarejo River. It is rated easy and takes about 30 minutes. The Sendero El Águila is also a linear route, but at 12 kilometres and about five hours, it is considerably longer. It passes through Mediterranean woodland, irrigated farmland and along streams. Its difficulty is rated moderate. These different timeframes offer a practical guide when planning your outings.

The 13-kilometre Bembézar Trail runs along the left bank of the Bembézar River and ends at the Bembézar Reservoir. It is described as a linear trail of easy difficulty, with an estimated duration of four hours. Only part of the route is open; check which section can be used before planning your outing. Golden eagles can be spotted at the reservoir, but sightings are seasonal and not guaranteed. Trail conditions may also change, so it is advisable to check before setting out.

Birds that may be spotted on the Sendero El Águila include golden eagles, Bonelli’s eagles, peregrine falcons and kestrels. Sightings here are also seasonal and not guaranteed. Birdwatchers can therefore choose between two different trail settings: the longer Sendero El Águila, which passes through several types of landscape, and the Bembézar Trail, which ends at the reservoir.

Sierra de Hornachuelos and Visitor Centre

The Sierra de Hornachuelos has the best-preserved vegetation in the province of Córdoba. The holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia) is particularly characteristic. The nature park consists of several mountain ranges interspersed with ravines and elevated plateaus. These landscapes offer a different setting from trails through woodland, farmland and along streams.

The Huerta del Rey Visitor Centre is about 1.3 kilometres from Hornachuelos, in the direction of San Calixto. Audiovisual displays there provide information about the nature park’s fauna, flora and topography. Permanent exhibitions also focus on big-game hunting, beekeeping and cork production. The centre thus offers a way to learn about nature and some of the activities associated with it.

Architectural history in the town

The Iglesia de Santa María de las Flores is within Hornachuelos’s former walled precinct, at the town’s highest point and near the castle. Its history as a parish dates back to Ferdinand III’s conquest of the town in 1240. However, the building that survives today was constructed only in the early years of the 16th century. These dates refer to different things: the history of the parish and the construction of the surviving church building.

The church was built with a single nave, with wide pointed arches separating its sections. Older Roman and Muslim elements were reused in its construction. Since 18 June 2002, the Iglesia de Santa María de las Flores has been protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category. The fortress of Hornachuelos, in turn, consists of two parts: the walled precinct and the castle. Its history begins in the 10th-century Caliphate period.

A special stay

The Monasterio de Santa María de las Escalonias, a Cistercian monastery on the right bank of the Guadalora in the area of the former Marquisate of Escalonias, offers a different type of accommodation. The monastery welcomes visitors in its cells and offers spiritual retreats during which guests can take part in the monks’ prayers. If you would like to include this option in your travel plans, confirm availability before your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bembézar Del Caudillo, Cerro Muriano, Torrecampo, Encinas Reales, La Celada, Posadas, Doña Rama, Nueva Carteya.

For the main travel overview: Cordoba.