Fornes: La Mesa, Hiking Trails and Traditional Festivals

La Mesa de Fornes is a 4.5-hectare fortified protohistoric settlement. The settlement was inhabited mainly between the 9th and 8th centuries BC. Its complex fortification system comprises six approximately rectangular bastions and a small ditch located directly alongside them. As a table-shaped mesa, La Mesa de Fornes was formed by the river erosion caused by the Cacín, Cebollón and Grande rivers.

Fornes has medieval origins and is mentioned as „Fórnex“ in the work of the geographer Al-Jatib, who came from Loja. The historical heritage of Fornes originates from the various cultures that shaped this borderland, above all the Muslim culture.

Nature and Hiking

Fornes is located at the end of the Bermejales Reservoir; the district of La Colonia lies on its shores. The Fornes–La Resinera hiking trail begins in Fornes at the steps leading to the Cruz del Cerrillo. La Mesa de Fornes can be reached via marked trails.

After descending from La Mesa de Fornes, the Fornes–La Resinera hiking trail reaches the Cacín River amid stands of holm oaks and Valencian oaks. Along the Cacín and then the Cebollón, the trail passes through riparian vegetation and Mediterranean scrubland. Native crayfish and brown trout can be observed in the clear waters. Fuente Barranco can be reached easily via rural paths and offers hikers a cool place to rest.

Culture and History

In the surroundings of Fornes, the remains of the Fábrica Unión Resinera Española can be found in La Resinera. An information point in La Resinera explains how the natural resources of the pine forest were used industrially.

Festivals and Customs

The popular festivals of Fornes take place every year around 19 March in honor of the local patron saint, San José. The traditional Candelarias are celebrated on the night before 2 February. They include the Mancheo, in which torches made of esparto grass are swung in circles of fire.

The Romería de Santiago takes place on the Saturday closest to 25 July; decorated floats travel to the river for the occasion.

Local Cuisine

Fornes' culinary traditions include traditionally produced sausages and cheese. Honey and olive oil are widely used in local cuisine. Dishes referred to as local specialties in Fornes include „plato alpujarreño“, „ajo blanco“ and „habas con jamón“. Restaurants and bars offer visitors an insight into the local cuisine.

The historical record extends from the protohistoric settlement of La Mesa and its medieval mention as „Fórnex“ to the traces of the Fábrica Unión Resinera Española in La Resinera. The history of the landscape also remains visible in the forms described: La Mesa was created by river erosion, while the paths along the Cacín and Cebollón pass through riparian vegetation and Mediterranean scrubland.

The local festival calendar thus includes different forms of traditional customs: the Candelarias with the Mancheo, the celebration in honor of San José and the Romería de Santiago with decorated floats traveling to the river. The culinary traditions mentioned complement these cultural references with traditionally produced goods, frequently used ingredients and local dishes.

For the overarching travel overview: Arenas Del Rey.