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ACCEDER

Sendero El Santuario

The proverbial depopulation of Sierra Morena, and the consequent preservation of its natural wealth, has here, in the Sierra de Andújar, one of its clearest manifestations. In a wild territory, thirty kilometres from Andújar, stands the sanctuary of the Virgen de la Cabeza, which finds its meaning in such a strange location. For centuries it has attracted a large number of pilgrims from remote places and every year concentrates crowds in one of the most popular pilgrimages in the country. The path combines nature and history, landscapes and tradition in its short journey.

Difficulty

Low

START POINT

From Andújar, take the A-6177 road, heading northeast, towards the sanctuary of the Virgen de la Cabeza. After travelling about 30 kms. you will find the beginning of the path, located next to the road two hundred metres before the last crossing to the sanctuary.

TOTAL DISTANCE (IN KILOMETERS)

3 kms.

ESTIMATED RUN TIME

46 minutes.

Type of firm

Lane - road

SLOPE

82 m

82 m

DIFFICULTY. ASSESSMENT ACCORDING TO METHOD MEASURE

2

MEDIO.

Severity of the natural environment

1

Itinerary

Orientation in the itinerary

1

Displacement

Difficulty moving

1

EFFORT.

Amount of effort required

TIME OF THE YEAR

All year round

SIGNALING

MUNICIPAL TERMS BY WHICH IT RUNS

Andújar La Campiña

POINTS OF INTEREST

- Mediterranean forest and oak and cork oak pastures.
- Cortijo La Huerta de los Frailes.
- Arroyo del Membrillar.
- Popular sanctuary on Cabezo hill with various associated infrastructures and facilities.

DESCRIPTION

If you are coming from Andújar on the A-6177 road towards the sanctuary of the Virgen de la Cabeza, you must go to the vicinity, covering about thirty kilometres, to reach the starting point of the path, located next to the road two hundred metres before the last crossroads to the sanctuary.

We are at the foot of the Cabezo hill, the promontory where the sanctuary is located in front of us, less than a kilometre away as the crow flies, and about fifty metres down. Surrounded by a forest of black pines, you ride south-west as far as a junction (about 300 metres away), where you turn ninety degrees to your right. You will soon come to a farmhouse called La Huerta de los Frailes, a name that clearly alludes to its use by the religious custodians of the sanctuary. Go around the building, turning southwest to keep it going for only 200 metres, until you reach a junction where you turn off on a track to the right.

You will pass under a high voltage power line and then cross the Membrillar stream, from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the valley of the Jándula River as it passes through Lugar Nuevo, a public mountain that is emblematic of its great ecological and hunting wealth. Progressively we approach the slopes of Cabezo hill and the urbanised space occupied there by different brotherhoods and facilities linked to the sanctuary and the famous and multitudinous pilgrimage held on the last Sunday in April.

Advancing in the same direction at the foot of the hill, we reach the asphalted road where we start our journey, which we join on our left to travel a little over fifty metres, always with due caution.

This will take us to the paved road to the Sanctuary, which climbs up a considerable slope of about three hundred metres. The path ends at the top of the hill, although there are various offers here, such as visiting the Sanctuary and its surroundings, or going to the viewpoint from where there is a wide panoramic view of the Sierra Morena.

Source of information

Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development. Junta de Andalucía