Fornes lies at the end of the Bermejales Reservoir; the district of La Colonia is located on its banks. The Fornes–La Resinera hiking trail begins in Fornes, at the steps leading to Cruz del Cerrillo. This makes it possible to explore the river landscape along specific stretches, while the town’s history can also be experienced at Mesa de Fornes. Check trail conditions before setting out.
Hiking Trail and Landscape
After descending from La Mesa de Fornes, the trail reaches the Cacín, surrounded by stands of holm oak and Valencian oak. Along the Cacín and then the Cebollón, it passes through riverside vegetation and Mediterranean scrubland. Native crayfish and brown trout can be seen in the clear waters. The sequence of rivers, plant communities and waterways gives the trail several distinct landscape features, without requiring a particular walking time or distance.
Fuente Barranco is also an option for a rest stop: it is easily reached via rural paths and offers hikers a cool place to take a break. As conditions on rural paths can change, check them before your visit.
La Mesa de Fornes: Settlement and Mesa
La Mesa de Fornes is a 4.5-hectare fortified protohistoric settlement, inhabited mainly between the 9th and 8th centuries BC. Its complex fortification system includes six roughly rectangular bastions and a small ditch located directly alongside them. This architectural description complements the settlement’s dating with specific features of its layout.
La Mesa is also a flat-topped mesa. This landform was created by the river erosion of the Cacín, Cebollón and Grande rivers. A 2022 archaeological field report mentions marked trails to the Mesa; trail conditions can change. Check them before your visit.
History and Industrial Traces
Fornes has medieval origins. In the work of the geographer Al-Jatib, from Loja, the town is mentioned as “Fórnex.” Fornes’s historical heritage stems from various cultures that shaped this border landscape, especially Muslim culture. The town’s medieval history and the much earlier settlement on the Mesa therefore represent distinct historical layers.
Near Fornes, the remains of the Fábrica Unión Resinera Española are located at La Resinera. An information point at La Resinera explains how the pine’s natural resources were used industrially. The remains and the information point offer two distinct points of reference: traces of the factory and an explanation of the industrial use of pine resources.
Festivals and Cuisine
Fornes’s local festivals take place every year around 19 March in honour of the town’s patron saint, San José. The traditional Candelarias are celebrated on the night before 2 February. They include Mancheo, in which esparto-grass torches are swung in circles of fire. During the Romería de Santiago, decorated floats travel to the river; it takes place on the Saturday closest to 25 July. If you plan your trip around one of these festivals, confirm the schedule in advance.
Fornes’s culinary tradition includes artisan sausages and cheeses; honey and olive oil are widely used in local cooking. Local dishes include “plato alpujarreño,” “ajo blanco” and “habas con jamón.” Restaurants and bars offer a taste of the town’s cuisine; their offerings may change.
For the broader travel overview: Arenas Del Rey.
