The central section of the immense Sierra Morena is made up of
the extensive and sparsely populated Sierra Norte Natural Park,
a landscape of gently rolling hills clad in dense evergreen oaks.
It's similar to the adjacent natural parks of the Sierra
de Aracena y Picos de Aroche and Hornachuelos, in the provinces
of Huelva and Cordoba respectively. Few foreign tourists make it
up here, although it's popular with Sevillanos who travel the 90km
north from the city at weekends and holidays. It is one of Andalucia's
largest protected areas, covering 177, 484ha.
Villages and towns are few, but pretty, with a distinctively Moorish
feel about their steep, cobbled streets that often lead up to a
hilltop castle or Mudéjar church.
The village names indicate the region's mining history, like Villanueva
del Río y Las Minas just south of the park where the mines (minas)
consisted of a large coalfield. In Almadén de la Plata the Romans
extracted silver (plata) and in the Cerro
del Hierro there was an iron (hierro) mine.
Information
Visit the tourist office in Seville on Avenida de la Constitución,
954 210 005, or the park's main visitors' centre, El Robledo, at
Km 1 on the A452 between Constantina
and El Pedroso, 955 881 597. The centre has an exhibition on the
park and can provide maps and details of walks and activities, like
horse riding, trout fishing, bike hire and watersports, such as
canoeing on El Pintado reservoir.
The centre is open Friday to Sunday and public holidays 10am-2pm,
plus an afternoon opening, whose time varies depending on the time
of year: from April to September it's open 6pm-8pm and from October
to March it's open 4pm-6pm. It is also open Wednesday and Thursday
from April to mid-June and mid-October to mid-January, at the same
times as other days.
In the grounds of the visitors' centre is a botanical garden,
which has many of the plant species found in the park.
The second visitors' centre is on the western edge of the park,
near Almadén de la Plata, at Cortijo Berrocal, Finca Las Navas in
Berrocal, on the C443 at Km 14, 955 952 049. There is also a picnic
area, restaurant and the starting point of three walks.
Access
The park is in the north of Seville province and is easy to access.
Within the park there is a network of minor roads, dirt tracks and
footpaths, giving access by car and/or on foot.
It's worth travelling by train from Santa Justa station in Seville
to enjoy the journey up to and through the Sierra Norte. The train
stops at El Pedroso, Cazalla
de la Sierra, Constantina
and Guadalcanal.
Accommodation
The park's hotels are mainly in Cazalla
de la Sierra and Constantina,
although there are a few rural hotels in beautiful settings as well,
like the Molino del Corcho, a former water mill on the banks of
the Huéznar river. There is a youth hostel in Constantina. See also
our main accommodation page.
Camping
Camping Batán de las Monjas is at Km 7 on the SE168 road between
San Nicolás del Puerto and Cazalla and is near the Huéznar river.
Camping La Fundición is on the banks of the Huéznar river, 2km
from the Cazalla-Constantina railway station. It has a swimming
pool and restaurant-bar.
Suggested routes
El Real de la Jara to Alanis
El Real de la Jara marks the beginning of the park, on its westernmost
edge, with little to detain you except a restored castle and a curious
natural science museum featuring stuffed animals.
From El Real de la Jara, the A463 heads south towards Almadén
de la Plata. Turn left on to the SE179, which zigszags up over some
of the park's highest ground, past Padrona peak (910m), and through
one of the wildest, most remote areas on the park's northern flank.
Stop at the Mirador La Padrona y Puerto Quejigo and Mirador Bajos
de Jadraga on the way to soak up the view of adjacent Extremadura
and the Embalse el Pintado, which straddles the border. It's worth
stopping at the Pintado reservoir for a picnic and a swim, before
heading 20km southeast along the river valley, through some spectacular
landscape, to Cazalla
de la Sierra.
Once past Cazalla, the landscape becomes more isolated and there
is only the village of Alanis,
with great views from its Medieval castle, to go through before
Cordoba province.
El Pedroso-San Nicolás del Puerto-Cazalla de la Sierra-El Pedroso
This circular route passes the Sierra's main towns and best known
sights and natural features.
From the pretty village of El Pedroso, which has a Mudéjar church
with some interesting religious sculpture, take the A452 towards
Constantina, but you can make a diversion by taking the right turn
to the Embalse de Huéznar. Just before you get to Constantina you
can see the visitors' centre El Robledo and botanical garden to
find out more about the park. After Constantina, head north on the
A455 towards Cazalla and then turn right on the SE163 to San Nicolás
del Puerto. Stop off at the Cerro del Hierro Natural Monument, where
there is a walk, the Sendero del Cerro del Hierro, which circles
this distinctive so-called iron hill.
The road continues north; a few kilometres before San Nicolás
del Puerto is a beautiful shaded area, around the source (nacimiemto)
of the Huéznar river. Also near the village are the Cascadas del
Huéznar, a series of waterfalls surrounded by a lush river vegetation.
Take the SE168 south of San Nicolás del Puerto, which meets the
A455. Before turning right towards Cazalla, it's worth taking a
minor detour by turning left, to stop at a leafy picnic area, Isla
Margarita, with streams and waterfalls.
The A455 goes north towards Cazalla de la Sierra, alongside an
attractive stream. Three kilometres before Cazalla is a road off
to the right-hand side, which leads to the impressive Monasterio
de la Cartuja, a former monastery that has been converted into an
arts centre and hotel. Sample the renowned aniseed liquor in one
of the bars lining the main square, Paseo del Carmen, in Cazalla
de la Sierra.
From here take the A432 south to El Pedroso.You can take a detour
on the edge of the village up a small road to the Sanctuario de
Nuestra Seńora del Monte, a whitewashed hermitage in a beautiful
wooded spot with superb views over the Huéznar river valley.
Caves
Cuevas de Santiago near Cazalla de la Sierra are a labyrinth of
underground tunnels and caverns with six entrances, where prehistoric
remains dating from the Paleolithic period have been discovered.
A variety of bat species inhabits the caves.
Cueva de los Covaches in Almadén de la Plata are limestone caverns
with impressive rock formations and are the second biggest in Sevilla
province, located in a region of Roman quarries. It has been declared
a site of cultural interest due to its Neolithic cave paintings
and the discovery of Bronze Age artefacts.
Flora
Cork and holm oaks are the predominant trees, while the lower, shadier
slopes are colonised by gall oaks and the only Pyrenean oak woodland
in Seville province. Sweet chestnut groves can be found on the higher
ground around Cazalla and Constantina. There is an attractive walk,
the Sendero de los Castańares, through chestnut woodland near Constantina.
Along the rivers, particularly the Ribera del Huéznar, is some
exceptional river woodland, composed of elms, ash, alders, poplars,
willows and hazel nut trees.
A third of the park is taken up with dehesas, the traditional
mixed pasture-and-woodland areas characteristic of the Sierra Morena,
where farmers graze their animals - mainly black and brown Iberian
pigs that eat the fallen acorns - and produce cork and charcoal.
In recognition of these extensive dehesas, in 2002 the park became
part of the Unesco biosphere reserve of Dehesas de la Sierra Morena.
There is a wealth of wild mushrooms in the Sierra, which are sold
in bars throughout the area in the autumn.
Fauna
The Huéznar river is rich in wildlife, such as the numerous otters
and trout in its waters and birds nesting in the neighbouring trees.
Overhead you can see most frequently short-toed eagles and griffon
vultures, but there is also the endangered black vulture, imperial
eagle and black stork. Other birds of prey include red kites, Bonelli's
eagles and eagle owls, while in the woodland areas you may see azure-winged
magpies, golden orioles and hawfinches.
Wild boars are common, although not always visible since they
tend to hide themselves in the most dense thickets; you're more
likely to see deer. Other game hunted here are partridge and rabbit.
Foxes, genets, Egyptian mongooses, badgers, polecats and wild cats
all inhabit the Sierra, but the chances of seeing these are not
great.
Bats inhabit the Cuevas de Santiago near Cazalla, while a rare
and endangered species of bat, mehelys' horseshoe bat, can be found
in the caves in the Cerro del Hierro.
There is a significant population of butterflies in the park,
some of which are endangered.
Rivers
The Huéznar river is the park's most important water course, with
outstanding woodland on its banks. It is the only river in the Sierra
Morena and Seville province with trout.
Draining the park along with the Huéznar are the Viar and the
Retortillo rivers, all of which are tributaries of the Guadalqivir.
These rivers have been dammed to create reservoirs in the park;
the largest being the Embalse El Pintado, followed by the Embalse
de Huéznar and the Embalse de Retortillo.
Things to see
Cazalla de la Sierra
is a pretty town and the main centre of the park.
Constantina
is the Sierra's largest town and has a ruined castle and Moorish
narrow streets.
Huéznar waterfalls, near San Nicolás del Puerto, have been declared
a natural monument, the Cascadas de Huéznar. The source of the Río
Huéznar is also here; the river runs underground from Guadalcanal,
before emerging at this point. The whole area around the source
and the waterfalls is shaded by attractive woodland of poplars,
ash trees and willows, so it's a relatively cool place for a picnic
in summer.
La Travesia Necropolis dating from the Bronze Age has been recognized
for its archaeological value and is located in Almadén de la Plata.
Cerro del Hierro is a rugged crest
whose mines have been exploited for iron for centuries, hence its
name, Iron Mountain. It has been designated a natural monument for
its geological and historical value.
Cartuja de la Inmaculada is a restored 15th-century Carthusian
monastery in a beautiful, tranquil setting about 4km northeast of
Cazalla de la Sierra. It now houses a hotel, a contemporary art
gallery and studios for resident artists.
Guadalcanal is a former mining settlement, with medieval walls,
Mudéjar churches and a castle.
Walks
With its gentle gradients, ancient mule tracks and sense of away-from-it-all,
the Sierra Norte is fine walking country. Visit the park's visitors'
centres for maps and details of footpaths. Many routes are well-marked.
The 18km-long Vía
Verde of the Huéznar River is a footpath and cycleway
that was once a railway line used for transporting minerals from
the iron mine of Cerro del Hierro to the Cazalla-Constantina train
station.
Sendero de El Cerro del Hierro
is a signposted 2˝km walk that loops around a former iron mining
area, through disused tunnels and a limestone landscape with some
interesting rock formations. It is located just off the SE163 north
of Constantina; the track off this road to the hill passes some
houses, Las Casas de los Ingleses, which belonged to the British
mining employees, where you can park. The start of the walk is signposted
here.
Sendero Los Castańares is a two-hour easy circular walk of 7˝km
from Constantina through sweet chestnut groves (castańares) to a
hilltop viewpoint before looping back to Constantina. This walk
is especially beautiful in the autumn when the leaves change colour.
It starts at the end of Calle Venero (reached via the Alameda
square in the town centre). Called Las Erillas after the farm to
which it leads, the shady track climbs between stone walls, past
woodland of elms, then groves of sweet chestnuts and olive tree.
After the turning to Finca Las Erillas is an outstanding area of
Pyrenean oaks, a protected tree species.
The path then goes through a sweet chestnut wood. After the Finca
Cerro Gordo, it climbs again; this time to the highest point on
the walk with magnificent panoramic views over the Sierra. The path
then descends through more olive and sweet chestnuts plantations
until it reaches the foot of the castle hill in Constantina. Here
is a convenient fountain, where you can drink from before attempting
the next ascent, up to the castle, which is worth the effort for
the great views over the Sierra and Constantina.
Sendero Molino del Corcho is an easy 7km walk along the beautiful
river valley of the Huéznar. The best time of year to appreciate
the exceptional woodland on the river banks is autumn, when the
colours of the leaves are spectacular, particularly against a background
of bright blue sky. Take a picnic and, if it's warm enough, a swimming
costume.
The walk starts in the Isla Margarita picnic area, 1km from the
Cazalla-Constantina railway station, on the SE168. Walk along the
road to Constantina then follow the path signposted 'Molino del
Corcho', which leads to the river. Another pretty river walk is
heading north from the railway station towards San Nicolás del Puerto.
Sendero La Capitana is one of the park's more challenging walks,
of around 10km, which climbs the Sierra's highest peak of La Capitana,
at 959m. It starts just outside Guadalcanal near the Ermita del
Cristo. Look out for a forestry track leading to the left off the
A447 to Llerena in Extremadura. The magnificent panoramic views
are well worth the climb; you can see for miles around over the
Sierra Morena and Extremadura.
Villages
Alanis
Almadén de la Plata
Cazalla de la Sierra
Constantina
Guadalcanal
Las Navas de la Concepción
El Pedroso
El Real de la Jara
San Nicolás del Puerto
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