Andalucia 2024 - Zuheros

Zuheros was on my itinerary because the Via Verde del Aceite (Olive Greenway) winds past it and I wanted to see what the western end of the route was like.  I was NOT disappointed. 

Caught a bus from Cordoba which took rather longer than I’d hoped, stopping at many towns and villages before we finally arrived close to midday.  

I’d heard of a fantastic 13 km loop above and around the town and passing through the superlative Canon (canyon) de Bailon.  I knew I didn’t have time to walk the entire loop so I improvised a shorter route.  Thankfully the weather was slightly cooler here than the blistering hot Cordoba I’d traveled from.  A gentle breeze helped me climb up the steep slopes of the Parque Natural Sierras Subbeticas.  I found this incredible lookout with 270 degree views of the gorge, Zuheros and the endless olive groves spreading out towards the horizon.

Zuheros castle is perched on a precipitous rocky outcrop.  Originally a Moorish construction, what now survives is Christian construction from the 13th and 14th century.  You can walk right up to the steep rocks on which it’s perched, winding through the bucolic streets and past flower-pot clad whitewashed houses.

Once back in town I then descended down the steeper than steep streets to the Greenway and the pretty viaduct it passed across.  By now it was 4pm and I was exhausted from the vertical hiking but hauled myself back up to the town’s pub where I collapsed with a cold beer and tapas.    Just after 5pm the bus arrived to take me back to Cordoba.  

How I wished I could have stayed at Zuheros longer.  So much more to explore!