The Sierra de Hornachuelos Nature Park is home to one of the best conserved areas of Mediterranean riverine forest anywhere in the Sierra Morena Mountains.
This designation is partly due to the large range of biodiversity to be found in this nature area in the province of Cordoba. Holm oaks predominate, alongside cork trees and Portuguese oaks in the areas with most rainfall; there are wild olive trees on the river plains,
In areas of quartzite and slate, there are deep gorges carves out by the nature park's main rivers: the Bembézar, Retortillo and Guadiato. If you follow the trail along the Guadalora River, a tributary of the Bembézar, you will discover the riverine forest that surrounds it, with species such as poplars, alders, willows and ash trees, along with hawthorn, ivy and oleander. In the water there is also water crowfoot, duckweed and other species.
A walk along its trails will take you to charming places: willow woods, beautiful reservoirs like the one on the Bembézar River, canyons, grazing areas for Iberian pigs, traditional cork-harvesting areas, stone rockrose burners for making lime. For romantic visitors, alongside the abandoned Los Ángeles Seminary is Peña del Fraile Peak, which inspired the famous work by the Duke of Rivas, 'Don Álvaro y la fuerza del sino'; both these are visible from the Bembézar Trail.
Walking along these paths it is easy to see birds of prey. The park is home to one of Andalusia's largest colonies of black vulture, as well as major colonies of Griffon vulture. Golden eagles, imperial eagles, Bonelli's eagles and black storks also nest here. Other, more shy animals you could see are the otter, Egyptian mongoose, deer and boar.
All bookings are direct with the owner 