The best gravel rides around Villanueva De Córdoba

Although the exact date of its construction is unknown, tradition indicates that it was built in the mid-15th century, possibly thanks to a woman from Los Pedroches who promoted the construction of the first hermitage. According to legend, the image of the Virgin was found by a shepherd from Pedroche in a holm oak near the sanctuary at the beginning of the 15th century.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Luna is one of the most emblematic sites in the Los Pedroches Valley, deeply linked to the religious and cultural traditions of Pozoblanco and Villanueva de Córdoba. The sanctuary is located in the Dehesa de la Jara, in the municipality of Navarredonda, a natural holm oak grove characteristic of Los Pedroches. It is situated 15 km from Pozoblanco and 10 km from Villanueva de Córdoba.

Although the exact date of its construction is unknown, tradition indicates that it was built in the mid-15th century, possibly thanks to a woman from Los Pedroches who promoted the construction of the first hermitage. According to legend, the image of the Virgin was found by a shepherd from Pedroche in a holm oak near the sanctuary at the beginning of the 15th century.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Luna is one of the most emblematic sites in the Los Pedroches Valley, deeply linked to the religious and cultural traditions of Pozoblanco and Villanueva de Córdoba. The sanctuary is located in the Dehesa de la Jara, in the municipality of Navarredonda, a natural holm oak grove characteristic of Los Pedroches. It is situated 15 km from Pozoblanco and 10 km from Villanueva de Córdoba.

Cardeña is a town in the north of the province of Córdoba with a population of just over 1,400 inhabitants, at an altitude of 821 meters above sea level. The municipality of this beautiful town includes the small towns of La Venta del Charco and Azuel. The population trend, as in most towns in Spain, has been declining, with a loss of almost 500 inhabitants since 1979. It's worth stopping by its bakeries selling bread and typical local pastries, as well as traditional cured meats, and of course, enjoying a few beers while enjoying its gastronomy.

Cardeña is a small but historically and naturally important municipality in the region. It is located in the northeast of the province of Córdoba and is part of the Parque Natural Sierra de Cardeña y Montoro, a protected natural area. Cardeña is an ideal place for a break by bike, good food and nature worth seeing. Perfect for a bike tour with a culinary break in picturesque surroundings! The region was sparsely populated for a long time and was strategically used as a border area between Christian and Muslim dominions in the Middle Ages. During the reign of Charles III (1759-1788), Spain encouraged the settlement of remote areas. As a result of this colonization policy, several small villages were created in the Sierra Morena, including Cardeña.

This track is in very good condition and runs through a beautiful landscape of pastures and oak forests. In the higher areas, a charming view spreads over the foliage. If you are lucky you will see herds of Iberian pigs in search of acorns.

This district belongs to the municipality of Almodóvar del Campo (Ciudad Real). Between the end of the 19th century and the middle of the 20th, this population center served to house the workers of the silver mine that was 600 meters deep. At its peak, the Minas del Horcajo had 4,500 inhabitants. Today there is only a half-ruined church, remains of old facilities, and some rural and holiday houses that continue to serve. The route that connects this small town with the town of Conquista is more than interesting, the first to appear when crossing the border with Andalusia, through the province of Los Pedroches, being one of the 17 towns in the Comarca de Los Pedroches, period pass of the Al-Ballut cycling route. In the same way, this town is the protagonist of the Kilometer Zero route, on its journey from Madrid to Tarifa, connecting Castilla La Mancha with Andalusia. Along the way, you cross a private farm, but the track is totally public, and its passage is allowed as announced by the signs. It is usual that the guards of this farm want to escort you, to make sure that you do not get lost or that you do not leave the marked path. They are generally friendly. But this time I found a car with 3 women inside who tried to dissuade me from cycling on the track by saying "You shouldn't go this way, blablabla...". It is probably a slogan of those who try to put gates to the field and bother those who visit the mountain. The estate in question is owned by the Duke of Westminster, perhaps that is where the suspicion comes from. Royalty and its royal things...