Overview
Hornachuelos Natural Park (Parque Natural de Hornachuelos) is located in the west of the province of Cordoba and lies within the massif of Sierra Morena, the Dark Mountains, so called on account of the hue of this slate rich earth. It covers 60,032ha and is part of the vast 400,000ha Unesco Biosphere Reserve for the Sierra Morena mountain range. It is home to many endangered species such as lynx, black vulture, black stork, golden eagle and Bonelli's eagle.
Walking
There is a visitor centre at Huerta del Rey which can provide information on the available walks.
Sightseeing
The now deserted Monasterio de Santa María de los Ángeles located approximately 10km outside Hornachuelos is worth visiting. Perched on top of a steep hillside it provides splendid views over the Bembézar river.
Geology
The initial formation of the area, along with the erosion that has taken place over time, has created a smooth undulating relief of low peaks, between 250 and 750 metres in altitude, and deep river valleys.
Animals/Birds
The park is home to many birds of prey, these include golden, short-toed and Bonelli's eagles. There is a large and important colony of griffon and black vultures and also three colonies of tawny vulture. During winter migration the three reservoirs in the park - Bembézar, Breña and Retortillo are visited by larger amounts of great comorants. The area is rich in game such as wild boars and red deer. The rare lynx, black stork and wolf are also found here.
Plants
The predominant vegetation is holm oaks and cork oaks, interspersed with Mediterranean undergrowth. These include lentisc, Kermes oaks, strawberry trees, dwarf fan palms and myrtle. The river banks are home to poplars, ash trees, willows and oleanders. Endemic rare plants include the clover trifolium boissieri.
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