Discover Bornos: Culture, Nature and Trails

The Historic Ensemble of Bornos is protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest in the “Historic Ensemble” category.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Bornos, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation conditions on the offer pages. Alongside your preferred focuses—culture, nature, trails and water sports—you can incorporate this information into your personal planning.

Culture and history

The Palacio de los Ribera – Castillo del Fontanar combines the remains of the former Fontanar fortress with a Late Gothic palace built in the 16th century. As a visitable castle-palace, the building preserves sections of the walls and the Torre del Homenaje from its earlier Arab phase. The historical and tourist interpretation centre of Bornos is located on the upper floor of the Palacio de los Ribera – Castillo del Fontanar.

During the restoration of the Jardín Renacentista del Castillo Palacio de los Ribera, the central basin, stone steps, tree-lined paths and an artificial grotto were restored.

The bell tower of the Iglesia Santo Domingo de Guzmán is 31 metres high and was built in 1792. The church has a triangular Neoclassical façade pediment with four attached columns.

The Convento del Corpus Christi was inaugurated as a convent in 1597. It has two storeys, an arcaded courtyard lined with round arches, a construction made of stone and bricks, and a staircase with an intricately carved stone balustrade.

Nature and landscape

The Cola del embalse de Bornos was designated a Paraje Natural in 1989, a Zona de Especial Protección para las Aves (ZEPA) in 2002, and a Zona Especial de Conservación (ZEC) ES6120002 in 2015.

It is a nesting and wintering area for numerous protected bird species, with a significant heron colony.

Trails and activities

The Vía Verde de Bornos follows the unfinished Jerez–Almargen railway line and passes through Bornos and Coto de Bornos. It is suitable for walking and cycling and includes the Puente de los 21 Ojos as a photo spot. The route begins at the Bornos jetty, which can be reached from Bornos town centre via Avenida de la Diputación.

The Way of the Cross route begins at Plaza de San Francisco and is an easy trail lasting one to two hours. It follows the old Way of the Cross from the Convento de San Bernardino to Calvary.

The dam trail leads from the islet to the Bornos Dam and passes through tunnels and rocky gorges.

The route through the Sierra offers views of the Sierra de San Cristóbal from a viewpoint set up on the road known as Carretera Vieja.

Windsurfing is the main activity; paddleboarding and kayaking are also available.

You can compare the information on duration, trail characteristics and activity type side by side for your personal planning.

Cuisine

During the vineyard snail season, numerous snail dishes are prepared in Bornos; many of them are presented annually at the Feria del Caracol.

Other places

San Pablo De Buceite, Barbate, Rota, Algodonales, Los Barrios, Poblado Sancti Petri, Benaocaz, Jimena De La Frontera

For the overarching travel overview: Cadiz.