The best MTB trails around Santiago De Calatrava

Great and unusual old train station.

The station was opened in 1893 by the Compañía de los Ferrocarriles Andaluces on the Linares–Puente Genil line. It had a simple station building, a goods shed, several sidings, water depots, and a cast-iron “aguada” for steam locomotives. After the line was closed in 1984, the facilities fell into disrepair until they were restored and integrated into the network as part of the conversion to the Vía Verde. Next to the station is the Jardín de Variedades del Olivo, a botanical garden with 31 varieties of olives from 5 Mediterranean countries (including Carrasqueño de Alcaudete, Arbequina, Kalamon). There are picnic facilities here, but no restaurant.

The Laguna del Conde (also known as Laguna del Salobral) is an important wetland that serves as a habitat for numerous bird species such as flamingos, cormorants, and ducks. Along the Vía Verde, there are viewpoints from which visitors can observe the wildlife.

Here you can find everything in the field of catering. Breakfast, lunch, sleep. It seems like this is the place to be in the area.

The Lagoon del Conde or Salobral Lagoon is a temporary lagoon that reaches a maximum flood level in spring and subsides in summer. The lagoon is filled by rainfall that falls directly on the surface of the lagoon and by surface runoff from its catchment area, particularly from the Carrascón stream. The lagoon is on the migratory route that many birds follow towards the African continent in northeastern Europe. Like the rest of the wetland areas south of Córdoba, the Salobral Lagoon is integrated into the European Natura 2000 network.

The Luque station, part of the original Linares-Puente Genil line, was built by the Compañía de los Ferrocarriles Andaluces and opened along with the entire line in January 1893. In 1941, with the nationalisation of the Iberian railways, the facilities passed into the hands of RENFE. The line remained in service until it was closed in October 1984, when it was dismantled and the tracks removed. After the line was closed, the old station building has been used as a restaurant since 1990. It also houses the Oil Interpretation Centre, a site dedicated to the history of olive oil and olive groves, where you can also taste oil from the region. The site is within the route formerly known as the "Vía Verde de la Subbética". In 2017, those responsible for the Greenway routes agreed to unify all sections of the old route under the same name "Vía Verde del Aceite". For many, however, it is and will remain the "Green Way". Luque station is a popular starting or intermediate point for cycling tours along the Vía Verde del Aceite, the old railway line that is now a great cycle path. The route offers a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of the Córdoba region. The current station also offers a good opportunity to take a break and enjoy food and cool drinks.

Great view, first big viaduct coming from Jaén.

Currently the building has been renovated as a restaurant and hostel, and also houses the Oil Interpretation Centre, a meeting place with the history of olive oil and olive groves, where you can taste the oil of the area and admire the collection of agricultural tools and machinery from the old oil mills.