The municipality of Noalejo stretches across the border between the provinces of Jaén and Granada. The A-44 runs through Noalejo and is an important transport link between the two provinces. When planning a trip, visitors can choose from different sides of the area: mountain and karst landscapes, hiking and cycling trails, and architecture, crafts and local festivals. Hikers can stay overnight at the municipal mountain refuge on Cerro de la Mesa.

Karst landscapes, forests and mountain views

Navalta and Navalconejo are dehesa valleys surrounded by holm oak and pine forests. In autumn, mushroom foragers visit these areas to look for shaggy ink caps, which grow there. Elsewhere, distinctive formations also shape the landscape: on the summit of the Sierra de Alta Coloma is a large sinkhole, formed by underground cavities and the collapse of the ground. There are also caves in the sierra that are home to small bat populations.

The Paraje de Navalcán is a karst depression with rocky escarpments, caves and watercourses, as well as Mediterranean flora and fauna. La Piedra Granaina is a mountain formation with the rocky outcrops of El Porrón and Los Castillejos; herds of mouflon can be seen on its slopes. A small population of Montpellier maples grows in the Cañada del Toril; the species is listed as endangered in the Red Book. The Sierra del Trigo, an important mountain pass, offers far-reaching panoramic views of the surrounding ranges.

Hiking and cycling trails

The Ruta del Santo Custodio leads to the Cueva del Santo Custodio, a place closely connected with Noalejo’s popular religious devotion. The route offers panoramic views of the surrounding sierras and the landscape shaped by olive groves. Another named hiking route starting from Navalcán is Navalcán–Los Castillejos–Pinturas rupestres. The two routes have different focuses: one leads to a place of religious significance and passes through olive-growing countryside, while the other takes its name from its waypoints.

Noalejo–Hoya del Salobral–Noalejo is a signposted route for mountain biking. The C1 Valdepeñas de Jaén–Noalejo–Campillo de Arenas cycling route reaches Noalejo from Navalcán after about 5.3 kilometres. On this C1 cycling route, the area around Plaza de España is a convenient place to replenish supplies and adjust your route. The Torre de la Atalaya del Rey Gallarín adds a historic monument to the landscape tour: the circular ground plan of the medieval watchtower is still visible there.

Church, crafts and local history

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is a single-nave church with a rectangular ground plan and Mudéjar traditions. It was built between 1570 and 1575. The church houses a painting of the Virgen de Belén, Noalejo’s patron saint, and a 16th-century copy of the Shroud of Turin. Visitors interested in religious art and architectural history will find two distinct points of interest here: an image of the patron saint and a historic copy of the shroud.

Handcrafted creative ceramics are displayed in the lower rooms of the Mirador de la Puerta Nueva. At La Platera, particular attention is drawn to the bobbin lace made by Gregoria Berjaga. The Centro de Interpretación de “La Santería” explains the life and work of Custodio Pérez Aranda; check access arrangements before your trip. The Fuente del Pilarillo is also part of the town’s history: it stood on Calle Nava opposite the present-day pillar and is at the heart of a traditional legend.

Festivals and cuisine

The Fiestas Patronales de la Virgen de Belén usually last six days and take place over the third weekend in August; the exact dates vary from year to year. As part of the celebrations, the procession of the Virgen de Belén takes four hours, following Calle Real to her hermitage. Since program details may vary, it is worth checking the festival dates before your trip.

San Antón is still celebrated. Bonfires are lit and songs are sung, while homemade chorizos and morcillas are grilled over the embers. Noalejo’s prized sausages also include butifarra made with pork head and seasoned pork liver, as well as onion morcilla. The traditional Olla de San Antón is made with various cuts of pork. Another local specialty is Cachorreñas noalejeñas: a hot soup made with water, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt, ground pepper and toasted bread.

Discover more destinations: Garcíez, Vites, Baeza, Orcera, Hinojares, Iznatoraf, Santiago De Calatrava, Porcuna.

For the broader travel overview: Jaen.