Hinojares: Culture, Landscape and Traditions

Near Hinojares lies Los Castellones de Ceal, one of the most significant Iberian settlements. Historical references, geological formations and traditional customs can be considered in Hinojares as different focal points.

For personal planning, you can consider culture, landscape, customs and activities as different focal points side by side. Such a comparison helps you organise your own interests without reducing the town to a single theme. You can first define the desired focus and then classify the other topics as complementary aspects.

Culture

In the centre of Hinojares are traditional whitewashed houses with gabled roofs made of Arab tiles. The parish church of San Marcos was built at the end of the 17th century; inside it is an altarpiece originating from the Renaissance. The cave houses of Hinojares have great ethnological value and are considered a defining feature of Hinojares. To visit them, it is necessary to stay in one of the houses or contact the respective owners.

Traditions

Candelaria begins in February with the lighting of bonfires as the bells toll for the deceased. “Los bordos” is an old carnival tradition in Hinojares in which rushes were woven to make chair seats. After the procession of the saint, Tortas de San Marcos are distributed to both locals and visitors. In Hinojares, bonfires are traditionally lit around which people sing, dance, eat and drink.

Landscape

At the Arroyo Turrillas near Hinojares, a powerful unit of conglomerates, silts and clays with continental-origin carbonates emerges, forming a spectacular fan of strata. The official source of the Turrillas stream is located at Siete Fuentes on the upper edge of the hamlet of Cuenca. The Cascada de la Vinatera forms only temporarily during periods of abundant rainfall. The Piedra del Reloj is a vertical rock formation with three step-like ledges whose shadow indicates the time of day.

Trails and Activities

The starting point for the Vereda de Arroyo Molinos al Cerrillo–Cordel Romeral in the Hinojares area is at the entrance to a road branching off from the JV-3266, on the right in the direction of travel towards Huesa. Guadiana Menor Turismo is a company based in Hinojares specialising in active, sports and adventure tourism. At the Hinojares salt pans, visitors can observe the extraction of spring salt.

Getting There

Hinojares can be reached via the regional road A-315 Torreperogil–Baza; between Huesa and Pozo Alcón, turn onto the JA-8200 road. The named roads and the described starting point mark different orientation points around the town.

When choosing accommodation around Hinojares, travel dates, room category and cancellation policies can be considered separately. This allows the holiday apartment and the different themes of culture, landscape and traditions to be treated as separate aspects of travel planning.

Other destinations: Prados De Armijo, Las Escuelas, Vilches, Villacarrillo, Torreperogil, La Carolina, Siles, Torre Del Campo

To the higher-level travel overview: Jaen.