Jódar: Nature, Trails and History

Nature

North of Jódar lies the Alto Guadalquivir nature area. It covers 663 hectares and consists of the three reservoirs of Pedro Marín, Doña Aldonza and Puente de La Cerrada, as well as the river section between them.

The Alto Guadalquivir is home to, among others, purple herons, grey herons, western marsh harriers, little bitterns and penduline tits. The nature area can be reached from Jódar via Regional Road 325.

Las Quebrás is home to the most extensive remaining esparto steppe on the plain in the province of Jaén and provides habitat for wildlife such as the black-bellied sandgrouse, which is considered very rare in Andalusia.

North of the town lies the Paraje Fuente Garciez, more than two kilometres from Jódar's town centre and accessible via a paved path. The pine-dominated recreational area has a washing area, a spring, picnic areas and cooking facilities.

Pilar de la Dehesa is a spring and a place visited by locals at the foot of the Sierra de Miramontes. The path that climbs from there offers views of Jódar, the Guadalquivir Valley and La Loma.

In the centre of Jódar, the Huerto de la Cora preserves more than 400 species of recovered seeds and plants.

Hiking Trails

The Camino del Portillo is part of the GR-7, an international long-distance hiking trail, and is also a local hiking route west of Jódar along the Serrezuela. At its end, it offers views of the Sierra Mágina.

The Senderismo El Pocico hiking route is 7 km long in total and includes a linear section followed by a final circular section. It begins at Plaza de España, passes the Iglesia de la Asunción and Castillo de Jódar, and reaches the Mirador de Trascastillo.

Senderismo El Pocico offers views of the Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park and the Guadalquivir Valley.

The Ruta Antigua estación FFCC de Jódar connects Loma de Úbeda and the Guadalquivir with the Sierra Mágina area.

Culture

The Museo de Jódar features permanent exhibitions on Jódar through the ages and its history, folk art and everyday customs, as well as esparto crafts, traditional occupations and olive growing. The museum's own association offers guided tours; admission is free.

The Museo de arte naif “Brilop” preserves the artistic heritage of Blas T. Rivera López.

Jódar has several craft workshops producing esparto goods, including esparto beach sunshades.

Jódar's Semana Santa dates back to the 16th century and is an important local celebration featuring processions, music and religious sculpture.

A traditional Romería is celebrated at Fuente Garciez on 15 May.

The Fábrica de Harinas in the area of Jódar-Úbeda railway station is an example of industrial archaeology.

History

The two towers of Castillo de Jódar have been restored; the fortress has been protected as a historic monument under the Bien de Interés Cultural designation since 1985.

Castillo de Jódar preserves two almost square keeps: one of Arab origin and one built by the Christians.

The southern tower of Castillo de Jódar houses the visitor centre for the Sierra Mágina Natural Park, which presents the park's landscape, wildlife and flora with interactive information panels. Another tower houses the “Xodar” Interpretation Centre on the history of the castle.

The historic-artistic ensemble of Jódar has been protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural of Andalusia since 2014.

The Iglesia de la Asunción has a classical-Renaissance façade, a Latin-cross floor plan and side chapels between the buttresses. The present church was built on the site of an earlier church, which itself stood above Jódar's main mosque.

In Los Pinares, visitors can explore caves forming part of a troglodytic settlement. Los Pinares also includes a recreational area called La Cueva de Jeromillo, which is today incorrectly also known as “Miguelico”, and is home to important archaeological sites.

The ruins of several flour mills, including the Molino de Marcón, can be found along the “El Paso” Greenway and in the Barranco del Cañaveral.

Jódar is included on the Nasrid Route between Baeza and Jimena.

Other destinations: Navas de San Juan, Pegalajar, Hinojares, Andújar, La Puerta De Segura, Puente De Génave, Las Casillas, Canena

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