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Cambil-Mata Bejid Visitor Centre Huelma,Arbuniel and Cambil Natural Park

This route by car involves a visit to different areas of Sierra Mágina. Although it is recommended for any time of the year, autumn but especially spring are the best times to make this visit.

The route starts in Pegalajar, a town on the Guadalbullón river side, with different points of interest, such as its traditional medieval market garden system or the rural accommodation in cave houses.

Program

As soon as you leave Pegalajar you will arrive at a small mountain pass, a gate known as Siete Pilillas, between the Serrezuela de Pegalajar and the Sierra Mágina massif. In this place, favoured by winds, is located the paragliding take-off area of the same name.

The only 7 kms that join Pegalajar with Manchar Real (Ctra. JA-3203) are those of a small road that hangs from the slopes of Sierra Mágina, and are a magnificent viewpoint towards the countryside and the city of Jaén. Mancha Real is crossed by the centre of its urban area. This industrial and olive-growing town has a beautiful Renaissance church, the Iglesia de la Santa Cruz, which is well worth a stop.

The section between Mancha Real and Torres (Ctra. JA-3106) shows us a good panoramic view of Sierra Mágina. The arrival in Torres offers us one of the best landscapes in the Natural Park. A high mountain horizon, with the cherry orchards and cherry plantations on its slopes reaching the town centre of Torres hanging from Mount Aznaitín. The palace of the Marquises of Camarasa, the climbing of the Cimbras, some of its restaurants are enough reasons to spend some time in this village. We highly recommend the walk to the clock that crowns the town and that in an unknown viewpoint shows the best of these mountains.

But the best is yet to come. The mountain road between Torres and Albanchez de Mágina (JA-3107) is so small that these two villages separated by only 10 kms do not enjoy a bus line..., because there is no commercial size bus that can travel some points of this road. The main attraction is the landscape, which leads from the wetter northern slope to the drier eastern one, always accompanied by cherry and olive plantations.

Albanchez de Mágina, has a rock castle that is a must see, as well as the need to try the almond, muffin and bread, for many the best in the province of Jaén.

Seven kilometres (Ctra. JA-3105) more and you will arrive to Jimena and the road A-320. In Jimena you can ask for the wheat stew, and you have to visit the Cave of La Graja, with interesting Neolithic cave paintings (access is by a steep path that starts at the municipal swimming pool). At the town hall they will give you instructions and the key to visit the cave. If you are visiting Jimena at the beginning of summer, look for the best brevas in Andalusia, which are collected here by the local cooperative.

In the direction of Jaén-Mancha Real, on the A-320 road, after just two kilometres you'll find the turning on the right that will take you to the village of Garcíez, always on a small road (A-6104) that plunges you into the olive grove for five kilometres.

Garcíez and its Renaissance palace of the Marquises of Viana are a surprise. The palace cannot be visited, but only a walk outside gives an idea of the importance of the place in the 16th century.

Seven more kilometres and you will be in Bedmar. This town has restaurants and bars for lunch, as well as a ruined castle hanging over the town. In this town you can find the headquarters of the Regulating Council of the Sierra Mágina Extra Virgin Olive Oil Denomination of Origin, which orders the production of some of the best oils in Jaén.

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