In Spain, eight provinces make up the autonomous community of Andalusia. In the northeastern part of the territory is the province of Jaén, known for its rich heritage, its two UNESCO World Heritage cities, Úbeda and Baeza, as well as for the beautiful diversity of its landscapes. It is also known for the diversity of its landscapes, including hiking in natural parks with steep hills, such as the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas. But for those who discover it while reading these lines, one of the characteristics of the province of Jaén, and not the least, is to have olive groves that cover a very large part of its agricultural lands. It can even boast some 66 million olive trees, providing in passing 60% of Spanish production and a quarter of world production. The olive groves, which reclaimed the landscapes of Jaén during the 19th century, and the cultivation of the olive, now allow the region to bet on the development of olive tourism, that is to say, a rural tourism that combines the discovery of ancestral know-how in the cultivation of olive oil with various recreational, cultural, gustatory and wellness activities. Traveling to the province of Jaén allows you to learn more about one of the most important ingredients of the Mediterranean cuisine.
The olive groves of Jaén, unique landscapes in the world
To walk in the province of Jaén is to walk in the largest olive grove in the world. To keep things simple and know where you are going, it is recommended to follow the Green Route of Olive Oil, a route that runs along the old abandoned railroad line Jaén-Campo Real (Cordoba), and passes through the municipalities of Jaén, Torredelcampo, Torredonjimeno, Martos and Alcaudete. All along the route, it is a pure pleasure to cross this landscape of sea of olive trees, where the neighboring mountain ranges Jabalcuz, Grana, Caracolera and Ahillos, provide those touches of relief that so fascinate nature lovers. The Green Route of Olive Oil can be traveled either on foot or by bicycle. There is also the opportunity to participate in a horseback ride among the trees. The typical Andalusian farmhouses, located here and there, do not fail to catch the eye.
The walks through the olive groves of the province of Jaén, along the valleys, hills and under the sun, are pure moments of connection with trees that symbolize peace. They are an inseparable part of the Mediterranean landscape and have been declared a "National Monument" in Andalusia. We get closer to trees that are centuries old and of impressive dimensions, such as the Fuentebuena olive tree in Arroyo del Ojanco, or the wild olive tree of Las Hoyas, in La Iruela. Martos, considered the cradle of the olive tree, is a must-see stop to marvel at the heritage and walk through the surrounding olive groves.
What better way to enjoy and immortalize these sublime landscapes than to reach the best viewpoints in the province of Jaén? We can almost say that every place in the territory offers magnificent views of the olive groves that populate the valleys or are located on the hillsides and at the foot of the mountains. Among the places that are not to be missed for unforgettable views are the villages of Iznatoraf and Albanchez de Magina, located on top of a hill, Arjona, Andújar ; the castles of Santa Catalina de Jaén, Baños de la Encina and Segura de la Sierra, without forgetting to go along the A-316 road and the Torreperogil-Villacarrillo-Villanueva del Arzobispo section, where thousands of hectares of olive groves stretch as far as the eye can see, framed by the Morena, Segura and Las Villas mountain ranges.
Olive oil, a key product in gastronomy
Olive oil is a key ingredient in Spanish cuisine and in dishes with a Mediterranean influence. Discovering the province of Jaén through the prism of olive tourism involves tasting its best "extra virgin" olive oils. The landscapes of olive groves of the territory reveal the places where these exceptional oils are made: the mills and cooperatives. Very active during the harvest period, between October and February, many of them remain open to the public all year round for guided tours on olive growing, harvesting, oil making methods and of course, tastings. Thus, you should visit places like Oro Bailén in Villanueva de la Reina, Oleícola San Francisco in Begíjar, Thuelma in Huelma, Aceites Aires de Jaén in Jabalquinto or the cooperativa San Amador in Martos.
During stops in the city or in the villages, many restaurants open their doors to offer a wide variety of dishes, always enhanced by the local "yellow gold". The extra virgin olive oil produced in the province of Jaén is used to prepare traditional dishes, but also inventive and contemporary dishes. Mountain meats, Mediterranean sea products, vegetables, salads and even toast at breakfast, extra virgin olive oil is everywhere. From small village restaurants to starred restaurants in the city of Jaén, all the actors of the gastronomy have their own way of highlighting these great oils.
These other experiences around olive oil
The olive tourism is to live multiple experiences with olive oil as a common thread. During the trip, we can stop for one or more nights in typical Andalusian farmhouses, those whose architecture is in total harmony with the surrounding olive groves. Cortijo de Bornos in Cambil and Cortijo Montano in Jaén are two places where you can discover the authentic Andalusian way of life in an enchanting setting.
If olive oil is a gastronomic element used throughout the world, it also has many benefits for the skin. Moisturizing, anti-bacterial, anti-aging, some establishments in the province of Jaén use it to offer treatments of great virtue to visitors. The Balnerio de San Andrès in Canena, the Hotel & Spa Sierre de Cazorla in La Iruela and the Spa Urbano Centre Nature in Jaén, await travelers in search of relaxation and wellness with balneotherapy sessions and other treatments and massages based on olive oil.
Of course, we will also take the time to stop for a moment to learn about the cultivation of the olive in the territory as a whole. The province of Jaén has many places to visit, such as the Olive Grove and Oil Interpretation Center, the Terra Oleum Museum with its avant-garde architecture and the Olive Culture Museum, located in Úbeda, Mengíbar and Baeza, respectively. These fascinating places offer a summary of everything related to the production of olive oil. History, oil production process, links with local gastronomy and health benefits. In addition, there are visits to olive groves, tastings and workshops for children
For a complete olive tourism stay in the province of Jaén, you can also take part in the celebrations around the olive oil. Every year in Martos, on December 8 and the following days, this local ingredient is honored during the Olive Festival, with the extraction of the first oil, exhibitions, concerts, literature and other sports activities.
The organization of an olive tourism trip in the province of Jaén is accessible from France, with regular flights of about 2 hours and 20 minutes between Paris and the Federico-García-Lorca airport in Granada-Jaén.
More information on the websites of the tourist offices of the province of Jaén and the autonomous community of Andalusia.
