Villanueva de Córdoba: Dehesa, History and Local Traditions

Dehesa Landscapes and Active Exploration

If you would like to experience Andalusia with a focus on landscapes and regional traditions, Villanueva de Córdoba takes you straight into the dehesa. The town lies amid a dehesa dominated by holm oaks, considered to be Europe's largest dehesa forest. Villanueva de Córdoba's tourist routes are associated with hiking, cycling tourism and horse riding. In the surrounding area, there is also a wildlife observation point on the Camino de la Serrezuela, where various animal species can be observed. These themes give your trip a clear direction if you would like to combine nature observation and activity with cultural impressions.

Churches, Museums and Visible History

One of the notable historical landmarks is the Church of San Miguel Arcángel. Its construction began in 1553, and the 35-metre-high bell tower was completed in 1785. Embedded in the façade of the Church of San Miguel is also a granite trifinium dating from AD 123. The Parish Church of Cristo Rey was built in the 19th century as a chapel for the convent of the Hijas de Cristo Rey. The Parish Church of San Sebastián preserves the form of a hermitage with a single-nave layout, pointed arches and a small portico.

The Local History Museum is housed in a former railway station built between 1906 and 1907. In the museum, you can see material from the Lower Palaeolithic as well as grave goods from a burial dating from the 3rd millennium BC. In addition, the Dehesa Interpretation Centre explores the natural, economic and cultural life of the dehesa. It is housed in a restored 19th-century building that was converted into a corresponding museum. The visit includes a 15-minute documentary film about the history, use, folklore, work, gastronomy and ethnology of the dehesa.

Beneath Plaza de España lies an air-raid shelter from the Spanish Civil War. It was fully restored in 2008 and prepared for public use. It is also considered the best-preserved air-raid shelter in the province of Córdoba. The town's architecture also has its own distinctive features: Casa de Aníbal González, completed in 1908, combines exposed brick, granite and modernist details. The municipal bullring is built of granite and decorated with tiles and wrought-iron elements; it has 3,250 seats.

In Villanueva de Córdoba, 52 megalithic structures are attributed to the Los Pedroches dolmen heritage. Together with the churches, the former railway station and the air-raid shelter, they create a broad range of historical themes extending from prehistoric traces to the history of the 20th century. The Ruta de los Lavaderos leads to former public washing places and provides an illustrative presentation of a traditional way of life there.

Festivals, Processions and Culinary Traditions

The religious and social year is marked by several special events. On Whit Monday, the image of the Virgen de Luna is brought from the sanctuary to the Parish Church of San Miguel in Villanueva de Córdoba; in October, it returns to its hermitage. The Festividad de San Miguel on 29 September includes a Mass, a procession, music, sports and traditional games. During the local procession known as the “Procesión de las Velas”, children present the Virgen de los Dolores with candles artistically decorated with wax and paper.

The October Romería de la Virgen de Luna also combines religious tradition with regional hospitality. At Pozo de la Legua, there is a stop where visitors are invited to enjoy Tostaos and wine. The Feria del Jamón Ibérico de Bellota de Los Pedroches takes place every year in November in Villanueva de Córdoba. It includes a ham-carving competition and a competition for the best acorn-fed Iberian ham. The Fiesta de la Matanza y de la Artesanía Popular is held annually as a staged portrayal of one of the town's oldest and most culturally important traditions. During this fiesta, visitors can sample local gastronomic products and learn about the work of the exhibiting artisans.

For a deeper insight into the connection between the dehesa, agriculture and ham culture, Las Lagartosas offers a visit to the dehesa with a walk through the landscape, as well as explanations of the keeping, breed and feeding of Iberian pigs in their natural habitat. JAMIVI offers group visits that combine a walk through the dehesa with a visit to a ham-curing cellar. As part of the JAMIVI visit, some of the provider's products are sampled. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between different focuses, including nature experiences, local food culture, festival traditions and local history.

More Andalusian Destinations to Compare

Other Andalusian destinations for your travel planning include Iznajar, Cardeña, Dos Torres, Palenciana, Carcabuey, Santa María De Trassierra, Castro Del Río and Alcaracejos.

For the overarching travel overview: Cordoba.