This is the largest natural park of Spain and locates
in the northeast of the province of Jaén where
the Segura and the Guadalquivir rivers rise. It offers
an amazing landscape diversity that goes from the 650
metres in its lowest quote where the Tranco Reservoir
lies to the summit of Las Empanadas with 2.107 meters
high. There are also some narrow valleys like that of
the Borosa, Hornos or Aguasmulas rives and wide valleys
like the Guadalquivir's.
The
natural space consists of four mountain cahins: Cazorla,
in the west border with the El Adelantado Parador Nacional
hotel; and the mountain cahins of Las Villas, el Pozo
and Segura. Its rough orography enables the existence
of many rivers and strems. The Segura river forms a natural
reservoir inside the Park, that of Anchuricas and continues
its way through the mountain chain.
Certainly, the tourist activity is one of the economic
resources of the park par excellence, besides wood and
sheep. Thanks to the revival of cynegetic activities and
its ecological values it deserved the classification of
Biosphere Reserve in 1983, through it was National hunting
reserve sice 1960. Later on, it became Natural Park by
Decree on 1989 and Special Area for the Protection of
the Birds (ZEPA in Spanish).
The
activities available in the park are very varied: adventure
sports, trekking, speleology, paraglider and hang-glider.
The park hoards a rich historic-artistic heritage. From
the almost 400 years of Arab domination and from the Reconquest
period there are still many fortifications like the historic-artistic
complex of Segura de la Sierra. the San Miguel Castle
of Bujaraiza, the Arab and Christian castles of Cazorla
and the watch tower of Tiscar. 
Location:
Comarcas de Cazorla, Segura, Quesada y Las Villas (jaén).
Area: 214.336
hectares.
Most common animal species:
Royal snake, booted and Bonelli's eagles, hawk, sparrowhawk,
kite, eagle owl, black vulture, tawny vulture and oesprey;
fox, wildcat, genet, badger and otter; deer, roe deer,
wild goat, European mouflon and boar.
Most
common vegetation: Spanish pine, holm,
oak, maple, oleaster, ash-tree, willow, poplar, box-tree,
juniper, Cazorla violet and narcissus.
Access:
free.
How to arrive:
From the East Coast, road N-322 Bailén-Albacete;
from Granada and Almeria, highway A-315; and from the
rest, the Andalucia Highway or N-322.
Map of Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural
Park.
