The best MTB trails around Guadalcázar

Castillo de Almodóvar del Río (Hisnu-l-mudawar; "the round castle") is a castle of Arab Muslim origin in the town of Almodóvar del Río, Province of Córdoba, Spain. Previously a Roman fort, the current structure is of Arab Umayyad origin, in the year 760. During the Middle Ages, it underwent several renovations and reconstructions. Between 1901 and 1936, it was restored by the owner Raphael Desmaissiers, 12th Count of Torravala, under the technical direction of the architect Adolfo Fernández Casanova. The most important towers are the Cuadrada, the Redonda, and the Homenaje.

In the era of Islamic domination, Córdoba had a defensive belt made up of watchtowers with the capacity to communicate with each other by means of smoke during the day and light signals at night. One of the most impressive is the so-called Torre del Beato, in the Sierra Morena. Near the Cortijo de la Soledad we find a path that goes unnoticed by those who don't know its location. If we follow it, after walking for a few minutes we are overwhelmed by the imposing sight of a 9-meter-high tower preserved as if time had stood still. It is an almost square tower built with rubble stones plastered with lime and sand mortar and reinforced with well-carved ashlars at its outer vertices. Its crowning of Syrian battlements is surprising, allowing us to relate it to other buildings from the emirate period, such as the Great Mosque of Córdoba. Inside, the tower is divided into two floors, in addition to the roof terrace crowned by the battlements. The first room is covered by a brick vault, with access to the second floor via a staircase attached to the wall. From the top, sheltered between battlements (some of which lie scattered on the ground, already surrendered to the passage of time), the lookouts could make out nearby towers such as the Palomas or the Siete Esquinas and keep an eye on the routes taken by the minerals extracted from the very bowels of the mountain. This treasure still has the capacity to surprise many hikers, the curious, cyclists and people seeking the peace of nature among the many paths that criss-cross the Sierra Morena. (Source: https://eventourcordoba.es/blog/la-torre-del-beato/)

Located on the Caño Escaravita estate, just beyond the outlying neighborhood of Santa María de Trassierra. We found it in the western Sierra peri-urban district, next to the crossroads leading to the Ermitas and the Mirador de las Niñas, about fifteen kilometers from Córdoba. This is a zoomorphic water fountain on a pedestal from the Caliphate period, dating back to the 10th century. The sculpture represents a small elephant. Made of gray limestone from the Sierra Morena, it served as a support for the spout. The fountain is made up of three components: a water collection basin, a masonry pillar attached to it on its north side (which leads to a masonry irrigation ditch), and a rectangular pool located to the west of the canal. https://amedinacordoba.com/fuente-del-elefante/

A waterfall known as the "first spring of the Bejarano," whose water flow has always been active. There are few remains of an ancient structure from which the water flows: the aquifer catchment. The Romans knew how to harness this important spring, unique in these mountains, due to the large amount of water it provides every season (estimated at 20,000 to 35,000 m3/day). (Source: https://www.conocetusfuentes.com/ficha_detalle.php?id_fuente=10057)

The castle "Castillo de Almodóvar" is an impressive fortress that stands prominently on the El Redondo hill. In the 20th century, the castle was extensively restored by Rafael Desmaissières y Farina, Count of Torralva. This work gave the castle its current striking appearance, which seems very medieval, although many elements have been reconstructed. The castle was used for the filming of the series Game of Thrones. It served as the backdrop for Highgarden, the seat of House Tyrell. In October 2024, the seventh edition of the Age of Empires tournament sponsored by Red Bull took place in the castle under the name "Red Bull Wololo El Reinado".

The Castillo de Almodóvar del Río, also known as Castillo de la Floresta, is located near the town of Almodóvar del Río and is a well-preserved and lavishly restored castle. The castle was built by the Moors in the 8th century for strategic reasons and was completed in the 12th century. Due to its location on a hill, it controlled a significant section of the Guadalquivir. The mighty towers of the complex are naturally reminiscent of the fortress and the wall of the Alhambra in Granada. The impressive fortress, which towers high above the Guadalquivir River, was the filming location for the series "Game of Thrones". Guided tours are offered to visitors to the castle.

A beautiful stretch of this route that runs along part of the old Córdoba-Marchena railway line. The construction of this line was completed by the Andalusian Railway Company in October 1885. Due to the high operating deficit, the RENFE dismantled this line in 1971. Since 1993, the "Foundation of Spanish Railways", in collaboration with other organizations, has been converting these old railway lines into cycle tourist routes. The Vía Verde de la Campiña is a scenic cycle route that runs from Córdoba through the rural region of the Campiña to the town of Marchena. The route of the Via Verde also passes through landscapes on the banks of the Guadalquivir, mainly characterized by cereal cultivation. An easy and pleasant cycle route that offers the perfect way to explore part of the provinces of Córdoba and Seville on two wheels.

The Puerta de Sevilla in Córdoba is a valuable part of the old city walls that once surrounded the historic city. Although the name Seville refers to the neighboring city, this is one of the important city gates of Córdoba, which played a central role in the defense and access to the city in the past. The Puerta de Sevilla is an important remnant of the city walls of Córdoba and a fascinating monument that reflects the city's varied history. A testament to Roman, Moorish and Christian influences, it combines different architectural styles and tells the story of Córdoba as one of the most culturally and historically rich cities in Andalusia.