The Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park covers almost one fifth of the area of Jaen province and is the largest protected area in Spain and the second largest in Europe. The entire park is at an altitude over 600 metres and it's highest peak is Pico Empanada at 2,107 metres. The area forms a ridge between the Sierra Morena mountains to the northwest and the Subbética ranges to the south.
The area was designated a UNESCO bioreserve in 1983 and Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park was created in 1989.
There are two visitors' centres that will supply you with maps, walking and cycling routes and lists of accomodation.
The Centro de Visitantes Torre del Vinagre at Km 18 on the A319, about 30km northeast of Cazorla is open 10am-2pm and 5pm-8pm every day in summer and Wednesday to Sunday in winter.
Further north, near Torres de Albánchez at KM 47 on the A319, is the Centro de Interpretación Fluvial Río Borosa. The garden, made up of endemic species and river valley plants, is well worth a visit. The centre is open daily in July and August (Wednesday to Sunday the rest of the year) 10am-2pm. Opening times for the afternoon vary according to month: July and August 6pm-8pm, April to September 5pm-7pm and October to March 4pm-6pm.
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