The valuable natural resources of the Sierra Norte Natural Park have attracted numerous civilisations since ancient times. The landscape has been transformed by the different settlers who took advantage of the wealth that the area offered them. An example of this change is the Cerro del Hierro, declared a Natural Monument, where the extraction of minerals and the action of the rain have exposed a karst landscape that today is used by sportsmen and women for climbing.

The mountain ranges have gentle hills, where pastures of holm oaks and cork oaks predominate, interspersed with Mediterranean woodland and some olive groves and vineyards. In some shady and humid areas of the municipalities of Constantina and Cazalla, together with the only melojo oak trees in the province, there are also chestnut groves for the use of their branches. Next to the El Robledo visitor centre is the botanical garden of the same name, which contains a collection of the most characteristic plant species of Sierra Morena.

The hydrographic network of the Natural Park also plays a fundamental role in its history and landscape. There are three main rivers that refresh the region: the Rivera del Huéznar, in the central area of the Park, the river Viar to the west and, finally, the Retortillo, to the east. The first two are home to magnificent gallery forests, where you can fish for trout, an unusual activity in Seville.

For those who prefer hiking and cycle touring, we recommend the Vía Verde de la Sierra Norte, an old mining railway line that runs between the old settlement of Cerro del Hierro and the Los Prados-Cazalla train station, passing through the Cascadas del Huéznar Natural Monument.

Iberian imperial eagles, golden eagles and Bonelli’s eagles soar through the sky of the Natural Park. Scavenger birds such as the black vulture and griffon vulture are also common. Ungulate mammals, such as deer and wild boar, are common. The Navas-Berrocal public mountain, in Almadén de la Plata, will allow you to observe them easily.

The ten municipalities that form part of the Park contribute to its cultural heritage, with interesting historical and artistic monuments such as Arab castles, churches and hermitages of Christian tradition. Vestiges of a more distant past can be found in Almadén de la Plata, where prehistoric remains have been found.

On the other hand, artisan products such as wines and anisette from Cazalla de la Sierra and Constantina are internationally renowned. Other traditional products include sweets from La Puebla de los Infantes, olive oil from Guadalcanal and Alanís and sausages from El Real de la Jara and Almadén de la Plata. Its cuisine specialising in game meats is exquisite, a good example of which is the caldereta de ciervo (venison stew) from Las Navas de la Concepción.

Provinces: Seville

Municipalities: Alanis, Almaden de La Plata, Cazalla de La Sierra, Constantina, Guadalcanal, Navas de La Concepcion (las), Pedroso (el), Puebla de Los Infantes (la), Real de La Jara (el), San Nicolas del Puerto.

Size: 177484 ha.

Date of declaration: 28 July 1989

The Sierra Norte Natural Park, in the province of Seville, covers a region of Sierra Morena where the dominant landscape is made up of extensive pastures of holm oaks and cork oaks. Endangered species such as the rare black stork and the imperial eagle nest here.

Among the rivers that flow through this mountainous system, the Rivera de Huesna stands out, on the banks of which there are lush gallery forests. It is also the only river with trout in the province and in the whole of the Sierra Morena.

The existence of mining deposits has favoured the settlement of settlers since prehistoric times. Roman and Arab peoples have also left numerous remains in the villages of the region.

The Sierra Norte de Sevilla Natural Park covers an area of 177,484 hectares and includes, totally or partially, the municipalities of Alanís, Almadén de la Plata, Cazalla de la Sierra, Constantina, Guadalcanal, Las Navas de la Concepción, El Pedroso, La Puebla de los Infantes, El Real de la Jara and San Nicolás del Puerto.

The orography of the sierras is gentle and hilly, typical of ancient massifs that have long been subject to erosion. The rivers Viar, Retortillo and Rivera de Huesna, all of them tributaries of the Guadalquivir, make up the fluvial network that drains the Park.

The vegetation of Sierra Norte is adapted to the Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and mild winters, with holm oak and cork oak being the most characteristic species. As we head towards the higher areas of the Park (Constantina, San Nicolás and Cazalla), they give way to other species that are more demanding in terms of humidity, such as the gall oak and the Pyrenean oak. The latter finds its only enclave here in the whole province.

On the banks of the rivers, and especially on the banks of the Rivera del Huesna, there are spectacular gallery forests that are very well preserved, made up of plant species of high ecological value such as alder, ash, elm, poplar, various species of willow, hackberry, hazel, etc. In the latter river there are three fishing preserves, where you can catch brown trout (Hueznar I and Hueznar II preserves) and rainbow trout (Molino del Corcho intensive preserve, located downstream from the former). This sport is also practised in the reservoirs of the Park where, thanks to the good state of conservation of its rivers, we can find bogue and barbel as the most common fish species.

As for the fauna, deer are the most characteristic representatives in the area of the large herbivorous mammals of the Iberian Peninsula. These, together with the wild boar, are the most frequent big game trophies in the Park.

Among the carnivorous mammals, there is evidence of the presence of the lynx, although its population must be very small. Other more abundant species, although elusive and difficult to see, are the fox, genet, polecat, polecat, badger, mongoose, wild cat and otter.

However, birds are the most abundant group of vertebrates in the Park. It is home to such interesting species as the imperial eagle, the black vulture, the dipper and the black stork.

Among the geological and landscape values of the Park are “Las Cascadas de la Rivera de Huesna” and Cerro del Hierro, both declared Natural Monuments. In the latter, the extraction of iron, since Roman times, has given rise to a very peculiar landscape by removing the mineral accumulated in the existing holes in the limestone rocks of the “Karst”. The waterfalls feature impressive travertine formations and magnificent gallery forests.

The Sierra Norte is also rich in archaeological sites, where dolmen burials have been found, as well as numerous settlements and necropolises from the Roman period. There are also caves with remains of prehistoric civilisations such as the Cuevas de Santiago, in Cazalla de la Sierra, which form a complex with different entrances and where several species of bats live, or the Cueva de los Covachos in Almadén de la Plata. In the latter there are rooms with beautiful carbonate formations.

The abundant big game (deer and wild boar) and small game (especially rabbit and partridge) influence the gastronomy of the area, where you can taste dishes such as beans with partridge from San Nicolás del Puerto, “salmonejo” of poultry and rabbit from Constantina, rabbit “cencerrilla” from El Pedroso, migas from El Real de la Jara… as well as hams and sausages made from Iberian pork. In La Puebla de los Infantes, oil cakes, pestiños and sponge cakes are made using traditional recipes.

The Park has two visitor centres. In Constantina is the El Robledo Visitor Centre, where the public can find out more about what the ecosystems that make up the Park are like, how they work and what the main uses are. Its facilities also include an interesting Botanical Garden where the most characteristic vegetation communities of Sierra Morena are represented.

In Almadén de la Plata, located in the public mountain “Grupo Ordenado de Montes Las Navas y otros”, there is the Visitor Centre “Cortijo El Berrocal” which has a recreational area and three trails that run through different scenarios of great scenic and educational value.

Other information of interest

Information:

Delegación Provincial de la Consejería de Medio Ambiente Avda. de la Innovación, s/n Edificio Minister 41071 Sevilla.

Fax: 955 004 401
Train:
RENFE (Sevilla) Tfno: 954 540 202
By bus:
Estación de Autobuses Plaza de Armas Bus Station Tel: 954 907 737