In Fuentes de Cesna, archaeological sites, castle ruins, and the remains of earlier settlements tell different chapters of the area's history. Visitors wishing to explore these traces will find not only historic sites but also scenic routes and a guided walk. The sites and paths each offer a different focus, from European prehistory and the Nasrid frontier to the settlement history of Fuentes Viejas.
Villavieja: Evidence of the Copper Age
The archaeological site of Villavieja is located in Fuentes de Cesna, within the municipality of Algarinejo (Granada). It is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) in the category of archaeological zone and is considered a reference site for evidence of the Copper Age in European prehistory. The prehistoric site contains three walls, up to three metres high. Its protected status, historical period, and surviving walls make Villavieja a distinctive destination for anyone interested in archaeology and early settlement history.
The guided walk at Villavieja follows a path and includes information panels. It is open to all visitor groups year-round, and it is also possible to arrive by car. Check local conditions before setting out. The walk provides a way to plan your visit without conflating it with the area's other historic routes.
Routes, Cultural Park, and Castillo de Cesna
Parque Cultural Cesna is one kilometre from the present-day centre of Fuentes de Cesna. It includes features of natural, historical, and ethnological interest. Scenic, historical-archaeological, and ethnological routes pass through the former settlement, which has been enhanced as Parque Cultural Cesna. This offers a range of thematic approaches: visitors interested in history can explore the archaeological and ethnological aspects, while the scenic routes offer a different focus.
Castillo de Cesna was a defensive stronghold on the Nasrid frontier. The remains of three towers and sections of the wall survive. The castle ruins can be reached on foot from the GR-5400 road, which connects Fuentes de Cesna with Zagra, via a path approximately two kilometres long. The path descends through olive groves to the castle. As the route is a descent along a path, check its conditions before setting out. The approximate distance helps with planning the route but does not, on its own, indicate how long the walk will take.
Fuentes Viejas: Springs and Settlement Traces
Fuentes Viejas is laid out around three springs: Fuente de La Plaza, Fuente de Enmedio, and Fuente del Caño. Their names provide a clear way to distinguish the springs as part of the settlement. The landscape also shapes the description: Fuentes Viejas lies below a long, cave-like rocky escarpment and overlooks the Iznájar Reservoir.
The surviving remains of houses also tell the settlement's story. Following the collapses of 1942 and 1963, the houses were gradually abandoned. Together with the three springs and the striking setting, these traces offer a distinct focus alongside Villavieja and Castillo de Cesna. You can shape your visit around a particular theme: prehistory and walls, the castle ruins, or the springs and the documented changes in Fuentes Viejas.
For the main travel overview: Algarinejo.
