Zuheros: Cave, Museums and Historic Traces

The designated historic town centre of Zuheros is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the category of Historic Site. The origins of the Castillo-Palacio de Zuheros are associated with a settlement of the Muslim Banu-Himsi in the 9th century in the area surrounding the town.

Culture

The “Zuheros Histórico” route by OleotourZuheros conveys the history of the town and the Señorío de Zuheros through its castle, towers, squares and flowerpots. The Museo Arqueológico Municipal de Zuheros displays archaeological remains from the excavations at the Cueva de los Murciélagos in 1991 and 1992, as well as other finds from sites in the municipality of Zuheros.

The Museo de Costumbres y Artes Populares «Juan Fernández Cruz» presents the economic and social way of life of Zuheros and its region from the late 19th to the mid-20th century in 28 museum areas. The museum also displays a collection of more than 3,000 objects associated with the customs and traditions of Zuheros.

The Ecomuseo recreates the interior of the Cueva de los Murciélagos, including its chambers and galleries, in various rooms. Zuheros is also home to a workshop for sculptural works that uses, among other materials, local olive, walnut and almond wood.

Nature

The Cueva de los Murciélagos is located in the municipality of Zuheros and in the Sierras Subbéticas Geopark. It preserves prehistoric paintings from the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods and is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural.

The Cueva de los Murciélagos can be visited as part of a guided tour; due to limited access, advance booking is required. The tourist route is 415 metres long, includes 700 steps and descends to a depth of 65 metres.

The cave features limestone formations, including the four-metre-high stalagmite formation known as “El Espárrago”. OleotourZuheros offers a private, guided AOVE tasting in the Cueva de los Murciélagos, followed by a private visit to the cave.

The Sendero del río Bailón follows the Bailón River through the Poljé de La Nava and reaches the Las Chorreras waterfalls during the rainy season. On the Vía Verde de la Subbética, the Puente de Zuheros is home to one of two zones for active sports, where activities such as climbing, abseiling and bungee jumping are available.

Food and Traditions

Since 1995, Quesería Los Balanchares has been producing artisan cheeses according to traditional recipes. By prior reservation, Quesería Los Balanchares offers various guided cheese tastings.

The Feria Nacional del Queso Artesano takes place at the end of September on the Paseo de la Constitución and is dedicated to the presentation and tasting of cheese. Melenchón is a traditional carnival game played in a circle in the street, in which older residents sing satirical and love verses.

More destinations

More destinations on this page: El Cañuelo, Almodóvar Del Río, Santa Cruz, Pedro Abad, Lucena, Cañete De Las Torres, Benamejí, Puente Genil

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