The best cycling routes around La Sierra

Cardeña is a town in the north of the province of Córdoba with a population of just over 1,400 inhabitants, at an altitude of 821 meters above sea level. The municipality of this beautiful town includes the small towns of La Venta del Charco and Azuel. The population trend, as in most towns in Spain, has been declining, with a loss of almost 500 inhabitants since 1979. It's worth stopping by its bakeries selling bread and typical local pastries, as well as traditional cured meats, and of course, enjoying a few beers while enjoying its gastronomy.

Cardeña is a small but historically and naturally important municipality in the region. It is located in the northeast of the province of Córdoba and is part of the Parque Natural Sierra de Cardeña y Montoro, a protected natural area. Cardeña is an ideal place for a break by bike, good food and nature worth seeing. Perfect for a bike tour with a culinary break in picturesque surroundings! The region was sparsely populated for a long time and was strategically used as a border area between Christian and Muslim dominions in the Middle Ages. During the reign of Charles III (1759-1788), Spain encouraged the settlement of remote areas. As a result of this colonization policy, several small villages were created in the Sierra Morena, including Cardeña.

The Medina Azahara Visitor Centre in Córdoba is an ideal opportunity to explore the remains of the once magnificent 10th century palace city. It offers comprehensive information and insight into the history and significance of this important archaeological site. In 2018, the Medina Azahara archaeological complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entry is free for citizens of the European Union. Visitors from non-EU countries pay a small entrance fee.

A closed gate prevents you from continuing along this route.

Non-cycling route in many sections. Fences with padlocks Not recommended for bikes Yes for hiking

Espiel is a Spanish municipality in the province of Córdoba, Andalusia. In 2019 it had 2,397 inhabitants. Its surface area is 437.26 km² and it has a density of 5.69 inhabitants/km².

The town retains its Arab structure with steep and narrow streets as well as buildings from that era, among which the Arab fortress stands out. In its old town, you can also see the Town Hall building, its Gothic church, and the homage tower of its castle in the Plaza de Armas.

The town of San Calixto, about 17 km from Hornachuelos, is located in the heart of the Natural Park. Its origin is found in the ancient and legendary Monastery of Tardón, founded in the 16th century. XVI by Brother Mateo de la Fuente, disciple of Saint John of Ávila and hermit from the wilderness of Córdoba, in the company of Brother Diego Vidal. Due to their reputation for holiness, many others joined them. Installed in some mountains heavily populated with thistles, which is why they called it Cardón, in a hut that served as their church, they placed an image of Saint Michael. Over time, these anchorites decided to live under one of the rules approved by the church, and chose that of San Basilio, founding in 1543 the Monastery of San Basilio del Tardón, a nickname derived from Cardón, which remained inhabited by monks until the year 1808. Twenty years later, Francisco Sánchez Gadeo founded the last of the New Towns of Sierra Morena, protected by the repopulating spirit of Carlos III and following his colonizing precepts. In memory of the day of the birth of King Ferdinand VII, October 14, the name of San Calixto was given to the new town.