Molares between history and hiking country

For your travel planning, Molares combines a long-documented local history with an area featuring several described hiking trails. Archaeological finds and historic buildings offer specific points of interest for culture enthusiasts; along the Almonaster–Los Molares hiking trail, plants and wildlife take center stage. Almonaster la Real also offers nearby cultural sites located outside Molares.

History and Archaeological Traces

Written records of Los Molares date back to 1579. The settlement developed on both sides of a former packhorse trail that connected Almonaster with Los Romeros and El Repilado. Both the town’s documented history and its historic connection via the packhorse trail offer ways to explore the past.

The earliest recorded finds in the area around Los Molares are handmade pottery fragments from a prehistoric period that has not been dated more precisely. Some tegulae, or Roman roof tiles, point to a Roman presence in the area. There are also numerous archaeological finds from different periods. Prehistoric evidence and Roman traces therefore sit alongside the town’s written history, documented since 1579.

Millstones, Church and “llanos”

The name Los Molares comes from the millstone used in mills for grinding. Large millstones can still be seen in Los Molares and its surroundings. The church of Los Molares was built by the residents themselves in the 1940s; its slender bell gable makes it the settlement’s most distinctive building. In front of some houses are traditional “llanos,” mosaics made of stones. These designs are also common in villages and hamlets in the Sierra.

Landscape and Hiking Trails

The landscape along the official Almonaster–Los Molares hiking trail features holm oaks, cork oaks, eucalyptus trees, rockroses, blackberries and gorse. Wildlife listed along the route includes foxes, badgers, Egyptian mongooses and wild boars. Sightings are not guaranteed.

The historic circular hiking route “Los Romeros–Aguafría–Fuente del Oro–Los Molares–Los Romeros” is listed as 10 km long. Another circular route starting from Almonaster la Real passes several named points; Iglesia Los Molares is a stop after 8.4 km. This route was contributed by a user, so check its course and the trail signs on site. The figures refer to different things: 8.4 km marks the stop on the circular route, while 10 km is the stated length of the historic circular hiking route.

Getting There and Nearby Buildings

Molares can be reached via the A-470 and is five kilometres from Almonaster la Real. There you’ll find a 9th-century castle-fortress and the mosque-church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, which is listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural. Both buildings are in Almonaster la Real, not Molares. You can include the nearby cultural heritage in your travel plans without confusing the two places.

Festivities

Patron saint festivities were held in Los Molares in July 2024. If you’re planning to travel specifically for the festivities, check the dates for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Jabuguillo, Cortegana, Las Delgadas, Hinojales, La Redondela, Almonte, Cortelazor, Zufre.

For the overview of the wider area: Huelva.