What to do in Jaén

Jaén is the province with the largest area of protected natural land in Spain: the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park covers 214,000 ha of pine forests, rocky outcrops and gorges where the Guadalquivir begins as a trickle of water between stones. Trekking to the river's source, combined with the descent through the Linares gorges to the Tranco reservoir, forms one of the most complete two-day mountain traverses in Andalusia. The limestone walls of Despeñaperros, at the natural pass between La Mancha and Andalusia, have climbing routes of all grades on compact rock and are a reference point for climbers from central Spain. The Jaén olive grove, the most extensive in the world with over 60 million trees, is more than agricultural landscape: in November the olive harvest transforms the lowland villages into a hive of activity, and several oil mills allow visits to the extra-virgin oil extraction process. Greenways follow the routes of former olive-region railways: the Via Verde del Aceite covers 128 km between Jaén city and Puente Genil, with a flat profile suitable for leisure cycling or families with children. Laguna Grande de Andújar, in the Sierra de Andújar natural park, is one of the best spots in southern Europe to observe the Iberian lynx and the Spanish imperial eagle. Organised birdwatching days include observation from fixed hides at dawn, when mammal and raptor movements are most frequent.