The village of Zuheros in Andalucia is one of my favorite pueblos blancos (white villages) in the region.
Less visited than the ones by the coast, it offers stunning viewpoints, a castle and a canyon.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit with tips, photos and map.
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Why visit the village of Zuheros?
The white villages of Andalucia are splendid against the mountainous backdrop of the region. There are so many to visit that it can be difficult to reduce the itinerary.
Zuheros requires a little detour from the traditional road trip routes, but I think it is worth it. It was one of my favorite villages because:
- It has the perfect size
- There is a magnificent view over the whole village from the entrance - as you can see in the picture below.
- The little castle is embedded in the rock wall
- It has not become just a touristic attraction like other villages
- There is a beautiful canyon just behind it
Village of Zuheros, Andalucia
The village has around 800 inhabitants.
It is considered, by some, to be the most beautiful village in the World. But I think every region in the world has one of those... Definitively one of the best landscapes in Andalucia.
If believe the picture above must be enough to convince you to visit, but if you need more, below is a short video of what a visit to the village could look like:
Many more photos of the village after the planning tips.
Planning Tips & Map - Zuheros Andalucia
Where is Zuheros in Andalucia? - Map and location
- Between Cordoba and Granada
- Detour from Road N432, not far from Alcaudete
- Cordoba to Zuheros = 1h15 drive
- Granada to Zuheros = 1h40 drive
- Jaen to Zuheros = 1h drive
- Below is a map to help you get oriented:
Zuheros in Andalucia - Map of location
This highlight (with GPS coordinates and practical tips) is included in my Travel Guide eBook that helps you early plan your road trip around Andalucia:
Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!
Plan your perfect trip around Andalucia!
- 7 easy-to-plan maps
- 150+ pre-selected scenic locations
- Planning tips to make the most of your time
- 300+ large photos to decide where to go
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
How to get to Zuheros
- You need a car to visit Zuheros
- Mountain road to reach the village - not difficult
- No much in terms of tours or public transportation
Need to rent a car in Andalucia? My tips:
- Compare car rental prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best rated sites!
- Choose the car and company you prefer (remember the villages narrow streets)
- Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
- See all my 36 tips about renting a car in Spain
The drive to Zuheros does not present any difficulty. It is a small mountain road but there is one lane in each direction. And the view as you arrive at the village is picture perfect!
Village entrance carpark
Canyon carpark
Visit Tips
- The village is niched against the mountain, so parking places are limited. There are a few parking spots near the entrance of the village
- Otherwise there is a larger carpark near the entrance to the canyon, but that means a steep ascent to the castle - GPS coordinates in the eBook
- Plan 2h to explore the village, and more if you want to hike in the canyon
- Once at the top, the village is quite easy to explore
- Public toilets near the castle
- There are limited accommodations if you want to stay in the village - check out options
Looking for the best place to stay in Andalucia?
Walking in the Zuheros white village
The first thing to do in Zuheros is to enjoy walking through the charming streets with white houses colored by plants.
I don't have any special street to recommend. It is fun to just follow your idea. Don't worry, you won't get lost, the village is not that big!
It is a tradition to have potted plants near your entrance. It represents the family.
And it is great for taking photographs LOL!
Compared to others, the ground of Zuheros is not so difficult on the ankles.
The village is quite well maintained and walking around is relatively easy.
Plus, as it is off the beaten path in Andalucia, you can enjoy it by yourself when off season!
At one end you reach the castle. I will tell you more about it in the next section. It is the main attraction of the village.
It is very practical to get oriented.
Quick history:
The village was established to protect the Camino de los Metedores (the Smugglers track).
At the end fo the 9th century, the castle was build and in 1240 it was conquered by Fernando III. It became part of the border with the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada.
In 1293 it was conquered again, and since them it has stayed under the jurisdiction of Cordoba.
Towards the end of the ninth century, Banu Himsi soldiers built a castle on the impregnable rocks, called Sujaira.
In the year 1240, the settlement was conquered by Fernando III, placing the castle under seigneurial jurisdiction and thus strengthening the border with the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. Alfonso X "El Sabio" gave it to his son, Infante Don Juan, however, following the breach of an agreement, Sancho IV ordered a conquest for the Council of Cordoba in 1293, so the village remains until today under its jurisdiction. Varying lords and their respective houses were in control of the village thereafter, until the abolition of the Señoríos. See more >
Zuheros Castle & Church (Castillo Sujayra)
And we arrive at the main square of the village. Here you have a magnificent view with the church and the tower of the castle mixed with the natural rocky promontory.
Zuheros church: Nostra Senora de los Remedios
According to the sign next to it:
It is an ancient mosque. Only the base of the minaret remains (now the bell tower).
The Altar piece with the carving of the Virgin is from the 13th century.
Zuheros Castle
The castle has been built on a rocky promontory during the 9th century by the Arabs. They named it Sujayra. This is where the village of Zuheros got its name.
During the 15th century it underwent a Renaissance remodeling inside.
Take the time to admire how it was built around the rocks using the natural fortification to create a stronghold.
One of the best castles in Andalucia - see our list.
Museums
There are a few small museums in the village - opening hours may vary.
Museum of costumes and popular arts
The main building at the entrance of the village houses the Museum of costumes and popular arts.
It is only open to the general public at the end of the day on Fridays and during weekends and public holidays.
Archeological museum
You can also visit the museum where you will find prehistoric objects found in the nearby cave of Murcielagos as well as ceramics from the neolithics.
It is located opposite the church.
Closed on Mondays
Museum of Francisco Poyato
In one of the houses not far from the castle you can find another small museum dedicated to Francisco Poyato. He is an artist with drawings, paintings and sculptures.
Open Wednesday to Sunday during certain hours.
Views from below the castle
Next you can explore the fortifications around the castle. It offers splendid views of the region, which is famous for its olive oil.
From one of the platforms, you have a fantastic view of the canyon that I will introduce in the next section.
Zuheros is indeed at the edge of the Subbetica mountain range (Sierras Subbeticas) which is a Unesco Global Geopark (learn more). The Subbetica is made of 14 towns and a large Natural park.
As you can see, there are olive trees as far as the eyes can see:
And keep track of your own trip!
Rio Bailon canyon - hike
If you are looking for an adventure in Nature, just below the village is the departure point of the hike in Rio Bailon Canyon.
The limestone was carved by the river thousands of years ago.
The trail is a loop. At the beginning you follow the edge of the river with beautiful views of the village and the cliffs.
Then you walk away from the river and into a green valley, spotting the ruins of farms along the way. You finish the trail via a plain full of olive trees.
Below is the entrance to the canyon:
The loop takes around 4h to cover 13km (8 miles).
There is also a shorter loop of 4.5km (3.7 mi) over 2h.
The canyon should be avoided during or after heavy rain.
Other walking trails are available in the area.
Even if you don't go for the hike, you can appreciate the view of the village from above.
Cueva de los Murciélagos - Zuheros cave
The other main interest of the area is the Los Murcielagos caves.
It is located above the village, at the end of road CV 247 (4km from town)/.
It is a cave system discovered in 1968.
It is known for several reasons:
- It is home to one of the largest bat colonies in Andalucia
- Tombs were found, providing evidence of human occupation 35,000 years ago.
- Upper Paleolithic paintings have been found inside
- Objects from the neolithics were also found in the cave
The system has a total length of 2000m but only 450m can be accessed.
During the visit you can see paintings of horses, bears and goats.
It is recommended to book your tour (which is limited to 30 people) - +34 957 69 45 45 - in Winter, they may not run the tours.
Always closed on Mondays
Want to see more of the best Andalucia white villages and other attractions?
- 17 Most beautiful white villages in Andalucia - read article
- 24 Best things to do in Andalucia - read article (to be published)
- 40 best landscapes of Andalucia in pictures - read article
- 20 Best beaches in Andalucia - read article
- Setenil de la Bodegas and its giant rocks overhanging - read article
Planning a trip to Andalucia?
Check out my travel guide to help you plan your itinerary:
Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!
Plan your perfect trip around Andalucia!
- 7 easy-to-plan maps
- 150+ pre-selected scenic locations
- Planning tips to make the most of your time
- 300+ large photos to decide where to go
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
Want to see more of ANDALUCIA
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