Huesa between limestone ridges, castle remains and festival traditions

Nature

Near Huesa are the Picos del Guadiana, a geomorphologically distinctive limestone ridge visible from the town, south of the town on the Guadiana Menor, where vertically standing limestone layers rise from soft clays.

The landscape north and northeast of Huesa is mountainous; at lower elevations, pine forests alternate with olive groves. The gentler terrain sloping down towards the Guadiana Menor includes pastures, scrubland, thyme stands and esparto grasslands. The area’s vegetation includes pine forests, native conifers, scrubland, pastures and riparian forests. The Huesa area has rugged terrain with deeply incised gorges. At 1,464 metres, Pico del Caballo is the highest point in the Huesa area. Wildlife includes peregrine falcons, black kites, foxes, wild boar and trout, among other species.

Hiking trails and natural sites

Near Huesa is Cueva del Agua, a natural site with a waterfall that can be reached on foot northeast of the town centre via a path leading directly from the town. Near Huesa, La Cerradilla connects a natural spring with the remains of an Arab castle. La Cerradilla lies northeast of the town centre and can be reached on foot.

The Calle de los Moros SL-A257 hiking trail is an easy, 3.6-kilometre linear out-and-back route to the remains of a Nasrid cistern and the Nasrid castle of Huesa. The La Mesa hiking trail is a moderate, 10-kilometre circular route with an out-and-back section; it begins at the exit from Huesa towards Quesada on the A-315 and follows the LM3 municipal trail markers.

The Área recreativa El Merendero Boca del Caballo hiking trail begins in El Rincón and leads to a picnic area offering opportunities for landscape and nature observation in the Boca del Caballo area. This hiking trail is an easy, 4-kilometre linear out-and-back route.

Culture and architectural history

Cerro Negro is a settlement from the Late Bronze Age with four terraced levels on which low stone-built remains can be seen. The remains of the Huesa fortress in the Calle de los Moros area include a double defensive wall dating from the 11th century.

The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza preserves the architectural character of 18th-century sacred architecture. Its square tower has four openings topped by round arches and a hipped roof.

The Molino Harinero el Gato is an electric grain mill dating from between 1950 and 1959, with elevators, storage containers and separate rooms for milling and machinery. It is located in the Paraje de Hutar, or at the Nacimiento de Hutar, in Huesa. At the Molino Harinero el Gato, the former water channel with bricked-up arches and millstones in the surrounding area have been preserved.

Traditional esparto items such as mats, baskets, pannier baskets, animal panniers and bottle covers are made in Huesa; esparto continues to be processed and gathered there.

Festivals and customs

The San Silvestre celebrations in Huesa begin with the burning of the so-called Castillos del Santo in the church square; they include singing, dancing and jumping over flames and embers. At the San Silvestre festival, the roles of Capitán, Abanderado and Guinche are allocated by drawing lots; this is followed by a procession accompanied by drumbeats and a display of flag handling.

The San Silvestre festival includes offering the large Huesa roscos de baño blanco, which are auctioned the following day, 1 January. At the San Marcos festival on 25 April, tortas del Santo are distributed to worshippers after Mass. During the Corpus Christi festival, the streets along the procession route are decorated with residents’ adorned balconies and altars.

The Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza patron saint’s festival in Huesa takes place on 26 April and includes a pilgrimage to the Marian chapel, religious celebrations and a communal meal in the surrounding area.

Cuisine

Huesa’s gachas picantes are prepared with flour, dried red peppers, roasted peppers and spicy ingredients. Andrajos with meat from small game hunting are locally known in Huesa as talarines.

Other destinations you can discover on the portal include El Almicerán, Mengibar, Cazalilla, Torres De Albánchez, La Hueta, Fuensanta De Martos, Friar and Sabariego.

Getting there

Huesa can be reached via the A-315, which connects the town with Quesada to the north and Hinojares to the south. Estación de Huesa railway station is located at kilometre 82.7 on the Iberian-gauge Linares-Baeza–Almería railway line between Larva and Cabra del Santo Cristo-Alicún stations.

To the main travel overview: Jaen.