Pontones – Hiking, the Segura Source and Village History

Pontones encompasses a hiking route, river landscapes, village history and traditional festivals. The Pontones option of the route to Cueva del Agua runs along the Masegoso stream, first leading to Charco del Humo and then ascending to Cueva del Agua. It is considered a 15 km circular route.

The area's nature, hiking and cultural themes can be considered separately without limiting them to a single type of trip.

Hiking and Trails

The starting point of the Pontones option is at an open area on the outskirts of Pontón Bajo, in the direction of Santiago de la Espada. Another signposted connection is Stage 18 of the Rutas Bosques GR247, which runs between Pontones and La Toba. Different route layouts and distance details provide various reference points for your own planning.

The two hiking themes have different focuses: the Pontones option is a circular route passing through several named stops, while Stage 18 of the Rutas Bosques GR247 connects Pontones and La Toba. Both the circular route and the connection between two places are therefore relevant when classifying the routes. On the Cueva del Agua route, the waypoints mark a sequence; the stage designation places the second route within a larger trail network.

Nature and Water

The settlements of Pontón Alto and Pontón Bajo are crossed by the Río Segura. Its source, the Nacimiento del Segura, emerges from a crystal-clear pool in a high-mountain limestone landscape. The area around the Nacimiento del Segura has tables with benches, barbecue areas, a children's play area and a spring.

From Pontón Bajo, the Nacimiento del Segura area can be reached on foot via the 4,862 m-long Fuente-Segura hiking trail. In addition, the scenic road from Pontones to the Nacimiento del Segura is 5 km long. This means that a named hiking trail and a short scenic road connection are available side by side for the same natural area.

At the Nacimiento del Segura, two different forms of connection are therefore found side by side: the named Fuente-Segura hiking trail from Pontón Bajo and the scenic road from Pontones. The distances of 4,862 m and 5 km help to consider the two connections separately rather than reading them as the same route. Here, the water of the spring pool, the limestone landscape and the facilities mentioned above come together with the two routes described.

Village Character and History

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario is located in the village centre and was built at the end of the 19th century. The small single-nave church has a rectangular floor plan, a simple façade and a stone portal.

A walk through Pontones' irregularly laid-out, narrow streets reveals traditional houses, ovens and grain mills. Another historical reference is the Cueva del Nacimiento near Fuente Segura in Pontones, where one of the oldest documented human settlements in the province has been identified.

Other Places in the Village

You can also visit the destination pages for Santiago De La Espada and Coto-Ríos.

Festivals and Traditions

As part of the traditional seasonal celebrations, a livestock fair takes place in Pontones from 10 to 12 October. The local festivities in Pontones also include bull runs with fighting bulls.

For the main travel overview: Jaen.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Mancha Real, Ribera Baja, Baeza, Friar, Arroyo Del Ojanco, Jimena.