Located in the north-east of the province of Jaén and of Andalusia, the Sierra de Segura borders the provinces of Granada, Albacete and Ciudad Real. It has all the features of a mountain area, with rugged, fragmented terrain that makes travelling through it difficult, which can be seen as either an advantage or a drawback, depending on one’s priorities. This has undoubtedly been key to preserving the traditional and natural qualities of the district, which are more valued today than ever. The natural wealth of the Sierra de Segura and the neighbouring Cazorla and Las Villas earned them Natural Park status in 1986, reconciling the conservation of their ecosystems and landscapes with the development of the area.

The abundance of water, the pastures in its southern third, the wealth of game and fish species, and its landscape and people all invite visitors to enjoy the district and get to know it in depth.

To discover its way of life, customs, art and cuisine, travellers will find traditional accommodation, restaurants serving its rich local food, and activities and routes for enjoying nature. The locals will give you a warm welcome and tell you about everything there is to see and do.

Craft lovers will find work made from esparto grass and wood, especially objects traditionally used in the countryside and in the home.

To taste the most characteristic flavours of Segura’s cuisine, try tortas del pastor (shepherd’s flatbreads), which often form the basis of stews such as andrajos and galianos, as well as ajoatao, gachamigas, ajopringue and ajo mulero. For dessert, there is fig bread, quince paste and sweet gachas, Easter hornazos with hard-boiled eggs, tortas dormías, Holy Week flores (fried flower-shaped pastries), perrunillas, roscos de aguardiente, borrachuelos, walnut and lard cakes, suspiros, fried roscos and panetes in sweet broth, all of which go well with the local aguardiente carrasqueño or mistela.

The village of Génave is a pioneer in Spain in the production of organic olive oil, sold under the brand “Oro de Génave”. Its extra virgin olive oil also carries the Protected Designation of Origin “Sierra de Segura”.