The Cazorla Natural Park, or the Parque Natural de las Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and La Villas, to give its complete name, is Spain’s largest national park and the second largest in Europe. Most definitely, one of Spain’s best kept secrets. An area of outstanding natural beauty, it was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1983 and created a natural park in 1989.
UNESCO biosphere reserve
Covering a total area of 214,000 hectares of extremely diverse terrain. The park covers almost a fifth of Jaen province. There are vast expanses of pine forests, river valleys, deep canyons, spectacular waterfalls, rivers, reservoirs and lakes. The sources of the Segura and the mighty Guadalquivir river are here. The Guadalquivir eventually flows through the cities of Cordoba and Sevilla before entering the Atlantic at Cadiz. Whereas the Segura eventually leads to the Mediterranean.
By far the largest reservoir in the park, the Embalse de Tranco, is actually the first attempt at damming the river Guadalquivir just after its birth. It is also an important source of hydroelectric power for the area.
Diverse landscape
All of these areas are interspersed with jagged peaks of karst that can rise up to over 2000m. The highest peak in is the Pico Empanada at 2107m, with the lowest point of the park at 450m, nearly all of the area is above 600m. You couldn’t hope for more beautiful countryside.
Abundance of wildlife
The park has always been home to an abundance of wildlife, leading it to be severely over-hunted at one point. It was even known to be General Franco’s preferred hunting area. During the 1950s the area was declared a national hunting reserve, with the idea of increasing the numbers of game. Various species were reintroduced with Mouflon brought in from France, fallow dear from the mountains of Segovia and stocks of red deer and wild boar replenished. The experiment was a success and the subsequent declaration of the park being a natural park, with far greater controls on hunting, has meant the region is one of the best in Spain for observing wild animals.
Coupled with an impressive number of birds of prey – several types eagle, griffons, vultures, goshawks – and the exceptional flora – over 2000 species with at least two dozen of them endemic to the park, you begin to get a feel for what Cazorla national park is all about. A natural paradise.
This Park looks stunning, i am now seriously thinking i need to take a couple of days off to go, as a keen photographer and nature lover, it will be a very welcome short break, it looks well worth the visit.
Hi Josef,
Thanks for the comments.
You should go, its a beautiful place. We go at least once a year. As far as photography goes…you can’t go wrong really. The whole area is stunning…..
Best,
John
hi john i am also into photography,when is the best time to go weather wise,is there anywhere to stay overnight and is there a bridge walkway alongside the river there
Hi Brian. Thank you for the comments. I recommend visiting Cazorla in Autumn. The colours are spectacular. It is also the stags mating season and they put on quite a display. We are going back this Autumn. The bridge walkway you are referring to – I think – is the one on the Sierra de Castril side. There is a very well known walk just outside the village of Castril. The first picture (top left) is actually one I took in Castril. In saying that, the park is massive and there are many ‘river’ walks – another one which I highly recommend is the walk to the source of source of the Rio Borosa.
Come and join us on Facebook, I have posted quite a few more Cazorla photographs there http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150172494347048.322008.143658172047&type=1 and there will be many more coming. Hope this helps and have a great trip. I am sure you will….the Cazorla National Park is amazing!