Vía Verde del Aceite
The Vía Verde del Aceite is presented as a new and attractive offer of inland tourism based on the use and recovery of the infrastructure of the old abandoned railway Jaén-Campo Real (Córdoba) as a green corridor, for the practice of cycling, hiking and other sports in direct contact with nature.
Built between 1882 and 1893, this railway belonged to the Linares-Puente Genil line, which was dedicated throughout a good part of the 20th century to transporting different metals from the Linar mines and, especially, the abundant olive oil to the port of Malaga and the markets of the south of the peninsula, which is why it was popularly called the Oil Train. Technical and commercial reasons led to its abandonment in 1971, and it was definitively closed to the transport of passengers and goods on January 1, 1985.
Its entire route, from Jaén to the provincial limit, winds winding fields of olive-growing countryside that make up a landscape of an authentic sea of ??olive trees dotted with typical Andalusian farmhouses. The presence of the Sierras de Jabalcúz, la Grana, la Caracolera and del Ahillos, located very close to the south and east of the Vía Verde, provide diversity to the relief and landscape.
TYPE OF TRAIL
Path
Difficulty
Low
TOTAL DISTANCE (IN KILOMETERS)
55 Km
ESTIMATED RUN TIME
5 hours
Type of firm
Ballast sealed with gravel and double asphalt treatment.
SLOPE
250 m.
DIFFICULTY. ASSESSMENT ACCORDING TO METHOD MEASURE
0
MEDIO.
Severity of the natural environment
0
Itinerary
Orientation in the itinerary
0
Displacement
Difficulty moving
0
EFFORT.
Amount of effort required
TYPE OF ACCESSIBILITY
Suitable and practicable with some sections with inclination, more information at: www.viasverdesaccesibles.es
TIME OF THE YEAR
All year
HEIGHT PROFILE
TUNNELS: 2 (Torredelcampo y Torredonjimeno)
METALLIC VIADUCTS 9 (from 70 to 224 meters in length)
METALLIC CATWALKS: 3
PONTOONS: 5
GUARD HOUSES BARRIERS: 3
NEEDLE GUARD HOUSES: 1
MUNICIPAL TERMS BY WHICH IT RUNS
Jaén Alcaudete Torredelcampo Torredonjimeno Martos Sierra SurRECREATIONAL OR SPORTS AREAS NEAR THE TRAIL
6, from Jaén (Las Fuentezuelas sports complex) and from each of the five stations.
OTHER INFORMATION OF INTEREST (ARCHITECTURAL OR HISTORICAL-CULTURAL, GEOLOGICAL-ECOLOGICAL)
Cultural heritage: Monumental complex of Jaén. Alcaudete medieval castle. Medieval bridge of the Vipers. Archaeological route of the Torreones. Urban complexes of Luque, Zuheros, Doña Mencía, Cabra and Lucena. Cave of the Bats in Zuheros.
Branch to Baena: Luque and Baena urban complex, Torreparedones archaeological park, Baena Municipal Archaeological and Historical Museum, church of the old Discalced Agustinos Convent in Luque.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Users: cyclists, walkers and people in wheelchairs.
Regardless of the way in which you decide to travel this route, it is advisable to wear comfortable clothing and shoes adapted to the time of year. Although it is not convenient to do it in the middle of summer due to the heat. You must not forget to bring plenty of water and, if you go by bike, it is always advisable to wear a helmet.
For more information visit: http://www.viasverdes.com
DESCRIPTION
The tour begins at the edge of the urban area of ??Jaén, next to the municipal sports complex Las Fuentezuelas. The first 2 kilometers, widely used by hikers and cyclists, have several rest areas. From here, we will cross, by a service road, the northwest ring road of Jaén. Returning to the route towards Torredelcampo, on both sides of the road, several intersections lead us to the Archaeological Route of the Torreones (signposted) that runs very close to the Greenway. After passing through a new alternative road that crosses the A-316 highway, we arrive at the Torredelcampo station (km 11,100) located in this urban center.
After two tunnels (the first is illuminated, 333 meters long), two viaducts and the Quebradas rest area, we will arrive at the nearby town of Torredonjimeno. From the Torredonjimeno Station (Km. 1, '600) we will continue towards Martos, for which we will have to cross two long metal walkways that allow the crossing with the A-316 road. The Vía Verde crosses the urban area of ??Martos and offers the possibility of making interesting visits to the city.
We left Martos, heading southwest, towards the border with the province of Córdoba. New intersections with the national highway are resolved by installing an underpass and a new footbridge. At km 33, coinciding with the proximity of the Salado stream, the landscape changes and becomes more abrupt and mountainous, already in the foothills of the Sierra Sur massif. The railway crosses rivers and streams embedded in the middle of impressive ravines, through metal viaducts with lengths between 70 m. and the 224 m. These complex engineering works, which were designed by the French Alessandre and Delapierre, date from the late 19th century, magnificent examples of roblonada architecture, and which constitute extraordinary viewpoints over the rural landscapes of the province of Jaén.
At kilometer 37 the rest area of ??the isolated Vado-Jaén station is located. The old railway platform continues its course in the direction of Alcaudete Station, crossing the impressive viaduct over the Víboras River (224 m long and 80 m high), the remains of an abandoned ballast quarry, called La Muela, and some sections of lush Mediterranean vegetation in which holm oaks, gorse and hawthorn stand out, as well as old almond trees.
Leaving Alcaudete station behind, at kilometer 48'400, we will come to a crossroads with the A-316 road, saved by an elevated walkway.
After passing in front of the building destined to the railway workers, the Vía Verde del Aceite connects with the Sierra Sur de Jaén bicycle routes (signposted), which take cyclists into the heart of the massif of the same name, and runs right next to the Laguna Honda Nature Reserve (Km. 50'500); at this point you can see the abundant and rich birdlife that inhabits this 65-hectare wetland: malvasia, mallard, swamphen or little grebe.
On the right bank of the greenway, a path leads to another protected natural area of ??the environment: the Laguna del Chinche Natural Reserve, of 6.5 hectares. Of extension and with an interesting perilagunar vegetation. The last kilometers pass through a very eroded area where there are frequent deep ravines, on whose slopes thyme and esparto grass occupy a land, not suitable for olive trees, which sometimes offer excellent views of the Vadomojón reservoir. The Jaen part of the Vía Verde del Aceite ends at the grandiose iron bridge over the Guadajoz River, right at the tail of the 199 m reservoir. of length.
From this point the greenway connects with the Cordovan Subbética.
Links of interest
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