Free walking tours in Hornos and what to see

Must-sees

Hornos, also known as Hornos de Segura, is one of the most spectacular villages in the Sierra de Segura, in Jaén province. It is built on a great rocky crag, within the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, and its old village is a declared historic ensemble. It is crowned by the castle, a fortress from the time of the Order of Santiago with its keep restored, which now houses the Cosmolarium, an astronomy centre with a planetarium and a terrace for stargazing.

Next to it is the 16th-century church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, mixing Gothic and Renaissance, with a Plateresque doorway. The best thing is to wander unhurriedly through the white streets to the viewpoints. The Aguilón viewpoint, by the town hall, and Las Celadillas look out over the Tranco reservoir, a great lake surrounded by pine forest where, depending on the water level, the remains of Bujaraiza castle appear.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in Hornos, as it is a very small village. The most popular activity is a kayak route on the Tranco reservoir, ideal for seeing the park's landscape from the water. In the castle, the Cosmolarium runs planetarium sessions. The rest of the park lends itself to hiking and wildlife-watching outings, especially for deer and Iberian ibex.

How long to spend

The village, the castle and the viewpoints can be seen in a morning. If you add the Cosmolarium and the kayak trip on the Tranco, allow a full day. With two or three days you can combine it with Segura de la Sierra and a route in the park. It is worth staying the night: the mountain sky is very clear and at night the stars are visible with unusual clarity.

Where to stay

Hornos itself has rural houses and apartments, most in the old village or on its edges, with views of the reservoir. Choice is small, so book ahead for long weekends and summer. The shores of the Tranco and the Coto Ríos area have campsites and rural places to stay in the middle of nature. If you cannot find a room, Segura de la Sierra and Orcera are the closest alternatives.