The Green Way of Olive Oil

The Olive Oil Greenway

Nature Trails

Since 1993, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food has built more than 10,300 kilometers of nature trails. In fact, these nature trails occupy former transportation infrastructure and are dedicated to hiking, cycling, and equestrian uses.

Furthermore, they allow the population to become closer to the natural environment, promoting knowledge of nature and landscapes, as well as rural development. These include former railway lines, canals, towpaths, livestock trails, paths, and even former public roads that are being reused.

These infrastructures played a historical role in economic development, and they are now recovering their role in rural areas through sustainable uses. You’ll walk through an endless canopy of olive trees and 13 impressive 19th-century metal viaducts, 128 km between Jaén and Córdoba. In particular, the Vía Verde del Aceite (Olive Greenway), a closed railway, has been restored as a Greenway, offering attractive landscapes and a rich history. It is currently the longest Greenway in all of Andalusia. This Nature Trail has been implemented within the framework of the Ministry of the Environment’s Nature Trails Program. The Guadajoz-Baena section of the Green Route has been built by the Baena City Council.

Olive Oil Route

This route consists of metal viaducts over the olive groves between Jaén and the old Campo Real station in Puente Genil (Córdoba), and a branch line between Luque Station and Baena (Córdoba).

The municipalities are Jaén, Torre del Campo, Torredonjimeno, Martos, and Alcaudete, in Jaén. And Luque, Baena, Zuheros, Doña Mencía, Cabra, Lucena, Moriles, Aguilar de la Frontera, and Puente Genil in Córdoba. Overall, we’re talking about a length of 120 km (the branch to Baena is 7.9 km longer).

This Olive Oil Green Route includes 14 Protected Natural Areas located within a radius of less than 5 km: the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park, the Santa Catalina Peri-Urban Park, the Sierras Subbéticas Geopark, the Cordobilla Reservoir ZIC, Laguna Honda, the Lagunas del Sur de Córdoba, and Sierra Subbética (Natura 2000 Network).

In addition, there are also the Natural Reserves of Laguna del Conde or Salobral, Laguna del Chinche, Laguna del Rincón, and Laguna Honda. Also worth a visit are the Bañizuela Forest and Bat Cave Natural Monuments, as well as the Cordobilla Reservoir Natural Site.

Finally, following the Olive Oil Greenway allows you to learn about the local way of life and traditions. Indeed, numerous companies organize visits to olive oil mills, guided tastings, and olive oil sales in many municipalities along the Greenway.