Discover Siles: Nature, Culture and Holiday Apartments

A large part of the municipality of Siles lies within the Parque Natural de la Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas. El Cubo, a 21.5-metre-high cylindrical tower, is the most important landmark of Siles. In 1985, El Cubo was protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural.

Nature

Siles's natural areas include the Barranco de los Tejos. Within this natural park, the Las Acebeas–Navas del Espino reserve area is designated as a Zona de Máxima Reserva. The Laguna de Siles is a small karst lagoon in a high-altitude calar.

In the Peña del Olivar recreation area, a botanical collection comprises two sections: one for the high mountains and one for lower mountain elevations. The high-mountain section is home to savins, creeping junipers and Spanish black pines; at lower elevations, there are maple, Portuguese oak and Pyrenean oak forests, as well as holly forests.

Culture

The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was built between the 14th and 15th centuries and remodelled in the 18th century. Its Renaissance altarpiece places the Virgen de la Asunción at the centre. Casa Tercia was built in the 15th century between the fortress's two towers.

El Sequero houses several facilities for visitor information and engagement, as well as a visitor information service. At the Centro de Interpretación Los Oficios del Bosque-El Sequero, visitors can learn about the former occupations of the mountain region, as well as mushrooms, ethnography, history and the biodiversity of the Sierra de Segura.

Festivals and Cuisine

The San Roque patron saint's festival is celebrated in Siles from 10 to 16 August. On 10 August, the image of the patron saint is carried in a procession from the hermitage to the parish church. The daily Encierros are a highlight of the San Roque celebrations.

Ajoatao is a dish associated with Siles, made from potatoes, garlic, oil, eggs, salt and lemon. The meat of the bull sacrificed the previous day is eaten by everyone.

Activities

Walking with a Joëlette is considered a group activity for people with and without difficulties walking on hiking trails. Caving can also be undertaken in the municipality of Siles. This means that group-oriented hiking and caving are presented as two distinct activity themes.

When there are several interests, nature, culture, cuisine and activities can be planned as separate focal points, without prescribing a fixed itinerary. The landscape, historic buildings, local festival traditions, a named dish and the two activities offer various thematic directions for trip planning.

For a holiday apartment in Siles, travel dates, accommodation category and cancellation conditions can be considered as separate selection criteria. Depending on the desired focus, nature, culture, festivals, cuisine and activities may take centre stage. The choice between these themes remains open and can be made according to your own travel plans, without prescribing a fixed itinerary.

Other places in the selection include Navas de San Juan, Porcuna, La Iruela, Miller, Peal De Becerro, Las Escuelas, Prados De Armijo and Hornos.

For the wider travel overview: Jaen.