The story
A HISTORY MARCADE BY THE PROTAGONISM OF MONTAIN
The territory currently occupied by the Natural Park of the Serras de Cazorla, Segura and the Villas has been inhabited since Prehistory, and each community has been transforming the landscape according to its needs, its vision of the world and its technological capacity. In the section "Scenarios of History" you will find very concrete clues to visit places where you will feel very close to the avatars of the history of what is today the Park and its protagonists. Many monuments, archaeological remains and interpretation centers will make the history of these mountains palpable during your visit.
Population and architecture
POPULAR POPULATION AND ARCHITECTURE
The natural park is extended by territories belonging to 23 municipal terms, to which two more are to be added shortly, among which there are many differences in extent, population and geography. At present, in the three areas that make up the natural park there is a population of about 80,000, of which about 14,000 live within the protected space. Most of the latter belong to the region of Segura, which occupies most of the Park.
Traditions and land products
In the natural park you will find traditions with strong personality, as it corresponds to its mountainous character. But above all, you are going to meet some people who love their land, although circumstances often force them to get away from it.
People who retain the attachment to their traditions but who, beyond the paternalistic topical hands over the noble and simple villagers, are rapidly joining the globalized society of new technologies, with all their lights and shadows, and making an effort to modernize their economy and provide competitive products and services with high standards of quality and environmental sustainability.
The trades of Mountain
The mountain has traditionally been a source of resources for the inhabitants of these mountains and is still a source of resources, although it has not been important before. Many activities of daily life were related to the forest and the mountain, such as grazing, mushroom collection and hunting, which completed the domestic economy.
Other work related to forest exploitation also covered a large number of activities and trades. These activities were in many cases the only source of income for many families that completed this activity with what they obtained from the family garden and the few animals they could maintain near the house.
Most forest-related trades have remained unchanged from the Middle Ages to the introduction of machinery in these activities in the mid-1950s. For this reason, the contemporary description of some activities is identical to that of the commissioners of the Maritime Province in the 18th century.
Gastronomy
The Sierras de Cazorla Segura Natural Park and the Villas is a peculiar pantry that once opened it does not stop surprising those who seek themselves in the entrenches of nature. Save in it the extra virgin olive oil, the first essence that tempered the flesh of deer, we, mountain goats, boars, rabbits, hares, perdices, trout of the common varieties and rainbow; or the most precious: the following lamb, which attests to the centuries-old stories and legends of transhuman pastors, of whom the popular galian stew is still preserved - which takes its name from the galian or crouched through which the cattle passes.
