Hinojares: Discover the church, cave houses and landscape

White Houses and San Marcos

White, traditionally designed houses with Arab-tile gabled roofs characterize the historic center of Hinojares. The parish church of San Marcos, built at the end of the 17th century, is another highlight. Inside, there is a retable dating from the Renaissance. The townscape and church art thus offer two different ways of accessing the history of the town: outside, its characteristic architecture; inside, a specific testimony to an older artistic tradition.

Cave Houses with Special Access Requirements

A defining feature of Hinojares is its cave houses, which are considered to be of great ethnological value. To visit them, it is necessary to stay in one of the houses or contact the respective owners. Anyone wishing to include this part of the town in their plans should therefore arrange access directly in connection with their stay.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

Hinojares can be reached via the A-315 regional road from Torreperogil to Baza. Between Huesa and Pozo Alcón, turn onto the JA-8200 road. The starting point for the Vereda de Arroyo Molinos al Cerrillo–Cordel Romeral, also in the Hinojares area, is clearly described: it is at the entrance to a road branching off from the JV-3266, on the right in the direction of Huesa. These road and path references help keep visiting the town and orienting oneself on hikes conceptually separate.

Rock, Water and Geological History

The landscape around Hinojares can be seen at several striking sites. The Cascada de la Vinatera forms only temporarily, during periods of heavy rainfall. The Piedra del Reloj is a vertical rock formation with three step-like ledges; its shadow indicates the time of day. At the Arroyo Turrillas near Hinojares, a powerful geological unit of conglomerates, silts and clays with carbonates of continental origin is also exposed, forming a spectacular fan of strata. The official source of the Turrillas stream is at Siete Fuentes, on the upper edge of the hamlet of Cuenca.

Traditions Throughout the Year

Cultural highlights include Candelaria, which begins in February with the lighting of bonfires while bells are rung for the deceased. “Los bordos” is an old carnival tradition in Hinojares in which rushes from the Anea plant were woven into the seats of chairs. In addition, fires are traditionally lit in Hinojares around which people sing, dance, eat and drink. In different forms, these customs bring together remembrance, craftsmanship and communal celebration.

Salt, Active Tourism and Iberian History

At the salt pans of Hinojares, visitors can observe the extraction of spring salt. Guadiana Menor Turismo, a company based in Hinojares, offers active, sports and adventure tourism. Nearby lies Los Castellones de Ceal, one of the most important Iberian settlements. Together with the salt pans, this creates a visitor experience that connects natural processes, present-day activity offerings and the history of earlier settlements at specific sites.

Other destinations at this navigation level are Mancha Real, Arbuniel, La Carolina, Martos, La Iruela, Torres De Albánchez, La Guardia de Jaén and Torre Del Campo.

To the higher-level travel overview: Jaen.