Villanueva de Córdoba: Dehesa, Heritage and Hotels

Villanueva de Córdoba lies amid a dehesa landscape shaped by holm oaks, described as Europe’s largest dehesa forest. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the different aspects of the town: the landscape and how it is interpreted, its architectural and local history, and the regular events throughout the year. This will help you plan your stay around the themes that interest you most.

Dehesa, landscape and trails

The Centro de Interpretación de la Dehesa is housed in a restored 19th-century building that was converted into a museum about the natural, economic and cultural life of the dehesa. A 15-minute documentary covers its history, uses, folklore, work, gastronomy and ethnology. The topics range from the landscape and how it is used to the ways of life and work associated with it.

The Ruta de los Lavaderos also leads to a piece of everyday history: it passes former public washing places that vividly illustrate a traditional way of life. The tourist routes of Villanueva de Córdoba list hiking, cycling and horse riding as activities. Nearby, along the Camino de la Serrezuela, there is also a wildlife observation point where various animal species can be seen. If you are interested in nature and the landscape, these different themes can help you plan your excursions.

Buildings and historical layers

Embedded in the façade of the Church of San Miguel is a granite trifinium, dated to 123 AD. Construction of the church itself began much later, in 1553; its 35-metre-high bell tower was completed in 1785. The dates therefore refer to different historical layers: the embedded object and the church’s construction phases.

The Museo de Historia Local is housed in a former railway station built between 1906 and 1907. There you can see material from the Lower Palaeolithic as well as grave goods from a burial dating to the 3rd millennium BC. A total of 52 structures are listed for Villanueva de Córdoba as part of the megalithic heritage of Los Pedroches.

Other churches showcase different architectural forms and original functions. The Parroquia de Cristo Rey was built in the 19th century as a chapel for the convent of the Hijas de Cristo Rey. The Parroquia de San Sebastián retains the form of a hermitage, with a single-nave plan, pointed arches and a small portico. Casa de Aníbal González, completed in 1908, combines exposed brick, granite and Modernist details.

Beneath Plaza de España is an air-raid shelter from the Spanish Civil War. It was fully restored and made accessible to the public in 2008 and is considered the best-preserved air-raid shelter in the province of Córdoba. Check the current visiting arrangements before you go. The municipal bullring is also defined by its materials and design: it is made of granite and decorated with tiles and wrought-iron elements. Its capacity is 3,250.

Traditions and events throughout the year

An annual devotional cycle shapes the routes of the Virgen de Luna: on Whit Monday, the image is brought from the sanctuary to the parish church of San Miguel, and in October it returns to its hermitage. The Festividad de San Miguel on 29 September includes a Mass, a procession, music, sports and traditional games.

Every November, Villanueva de Córdoba hosts the Feria del Jamón Ibérico de Bellota de Los Pedroches. The programme includes a ham-carving contest and a competition for the best acorn-fed Ibérico ham. Check the exact dates before your trip; programme details may also change. During the October Romería de la Virgen de Luna, there is a stop at Pozo de la Legua, where visitors are invited to enjoy tostaos and wine. The exact programme for this annual pilgrimage may vary.

The Fiesta de la Matanza y de la Artesanía Popular is held annually as a staged re-enactment of one of the town’s oldest and most culturally important traditions. Visitors can sample local food products and learn about the work of the craftspeople exhibiting there; the specific programme may vary from year to year. Such events can influence your choice of travel dates. If you would rather focus on architectural history or the landscape, plan around those themes and check events separately.

Discover more destinations: La Fuente Grande, Zambra, Hornachuelos, Huertas Bajas de Cabra, Zuheros, Montemayor, Venta del Charco, El Carpio.

For the broader travel overview: Cordoba.