09.07.09 - 18:09 -
FACING THE MOUNTAINS. The historic centre of Bedmar has a rich and varied architectural heritage.
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The Sierra Mágina mountain region has a very long history, and Bedmar, one of the small towns in the region, makes an excellent starting point for getting to know the entire area. People have lived in the region since the time of the early Iberians, and in recent years, many more are heading there to enjoy nature in its purest form by rambling on the mountain trails from small village to small village. For those who have never explored the mountain regions of the province of Jaén, this is a land of surprising beauty.
Other towns and villages in the region include Pegalajar, Huelma, Jimena, Jódar, La Guardia, Mancha Real, Torres, Albanchez de Mágina, Cambil, Carcheles and Noalejo.
Bedmar, which is situated between the Serranía de Mágina and the Guadalquivir Valley, beside the Serrezuela, is rich in architecture and natural surroundings. One of the most outstanding natural areas is Cuadros, where one finds the sanctuary of the Virgen de Cuadros, at the foot of a defence tower of the same name. Oleander trees grow in abundance along the banks of the river, making this the area with most oleander trees in the south of Spain.
While here, it is well worth while heading deeper into the ravine known as the Barranco del Mosquito, which brings one to the highest point in the mountain range, the Peña Grajera, at 2,014 metres above sea level.
If we continue this way, we see that the waters of the river are used to irrigate the vegetable gardens of this small town, divided into two urban centres. These are Bedmar and Garcíez, and they are no more than a few kilometres apart.
The Bedmar valley, Serrezuela and the source of the Cuadros river have become popular attractions for many visitors to the area, known also for its excellent olive oil.
The regulating body for the denomination of origin of olive oil produced in the Sierra Mágina region is in Bedmar, and many visitors go away with a few bottles of virgin extra in their cases.
A popular visit in the municipality of Jimena is the Cueva de la Graja, which can be reached on the old road leading to the village. One simply turns off at the entrance to the local football pitch and the cave is one the right. The municipality of Pegalajar is well known for the La Charca reservoir, which has been holding water from the source of the Fuente de la Reja since medieval times. It has been rebuilt extensively since then, of course, originally being no more than a stone wall with doors built in to regulate flow to the surrounding countryside.
One can also reach the castle through the vegetable gardens around Bedmar, as one can do as well in the neighbouring villages of Huelma and Jódar. The road to Cuadros also runs through these vegetable gardens, where one can visit the sanctuary of the Virgin of Cuadros.
Most visitors to the Bélmez area make a trip to La Moraleda, whose moment of fame was as recent as 1971, when strange images of faces could be seen (by those with sufficient imagination) on the floor of a kitchen in a local house.
