Zagrilla Alta: Nature, Trails and History

If you are considering Zagrilla Alta as a destination, you can weigh up nature, outdoor activities and history as different points of interest. The Jardín Micológico La Trufa focuses on mushrooms and ecosystems, nearby Sierra Alcaide offers trails and views, and archaeological sites provide further insight into the region. Zagrilla Alta’s own history is another point of interest. Together, these give you several specific ways to decide whether the town suits the themes that interest you on your trip.

Mushrooms and landscape

The Jardín Micológico La Trufa is located between the villages of Zagrilla Baja and Zagrilla Alta in the Parque Natural Sierras Subbéticas. The garden has two interpretation rooms and a gallery. They cover the life cycles of mushrooms, their importance to ecosystems, their relationships with people, and good foraging practices. Visitors can also learn about regional flora, vegetation and mushrooms in the garden.

Nearby Sierra Alcaide offers hiking trails, panoramic views of the surrounding area, and native flora and fauna. This brings together different aspects of nature: the Jardín Micológico focuses on mushrooms and their ecological relationships, while the Sierra is about trails, views and the landscape.

Local history and archaeological evidence

Zagrilla Alta originated in the Middle Ages, in the 10th century, as an Islamic hamlet around a spring. The Zagrilla Alta washhouse was funded by Niceto Alcalá-Zamora in 1935 and remains a meeting place for residents. Here, a specific historical date and an ongoing community function come together.

The Abrigo del Tajo de Zagrilla is a rock shelter with schematic rock paintings. It is located north of Zagrilla Alta, on the southern foothills of Sierra Alcaide. The Cueva de los Cholones is on the southern slope of Sierra Alcaide, near Zagrilla Alta.

Evidence for the Cueva-Sima de Cholones indicates that it was used as a burial cave between the 5th and 4th millennia, and that it contains rock art attributed to the Palaeolithic, later prehistory and the Late Middle Ages. The burial use and the periods to which the rock art is attributed are distinct archaeological clues about the cave.

Hiking and events

The Sendero Zagrilla-Esparragal-Fuente de las Majadas leads to the Fuente de las Majadas in the neighbouring village of El Esparragal. It is a little over three kilometres long; this distance refers to the one-way route. This helps you gauge the length of the hike without confusing the one-way distance with a round trip.

Much of the Sendero follows a footpath that runs parallel to the road and is suitable for people with reduced mobility. Check trail conditions before setting out. The Virgen del Carmen patron saint festival is celebrated in July; the exact programme may vary. If you want to plan your trip around it, check the event dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: La Poyata, Castil De Campos, Lagunillas Las.

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