Welcome
Welcome to the Virtual Tour of El Robledo Vistor Centre, located in the town of Constantina, in the very heart of the Sierra Norte de Sevilla Natural Park. In this place you can discover the merits of this protected space, as well as its role in the Network of Protected Natural Areas of Andalusia (RENPA) and its importance for the conservation of the Andalusian nature.
In this centre, the visitor can find a central space where the reception and the Natural Space shop converge, where they will be attended to and where they will have the chance to buy a product or two related to the environment, and also an area with information about the Network of Protected Natural Areas of Andalusia (RENPA). The building also has a meeting, exhibition and events room, where an audiovisual on the merits of the Natural Space is also screened.
In this visit through the interpretive and audiviosual exhibition the visitor can discover lesser known aspects of the natural spaces and, understand how the Sierra Norte that we see today is the result of a human-nature balance, whose maximum exponent is the dehesa, the most emblematic landscape of this Park.
The centre also has an area where you can recharge your batteries and an extensive outdoor recreation area and access to the El Robledo botanical garden, adjoining the Visitor Centre.
In these links you can find more information about this Protected Natural Area with downloadable material such as trails, opening hours, how to get there, map with all the facilities for public use, etc.
El Robledo Visitor Center: lajunta.es/3p0j4
Sierra Norte de Sevilla Natural Park: lajunta.es/3sq8d
Complete your visit with ecotourism experiences with local companies. You can consult the offer in the following link: ecoturismoandaluz.com
For activities aimed at the educational community, associations of people with functional diversity and local population, you can access through the link: reservatuvisita.ecoturismoandaluz.com
A meeting point between humans and nature
The Sierra Norte de Sevilla Natural Park is located to the north of the province of Seville and forms part of the Sierra Morena mountains, consists of mountains of medium altitude and gently rounded shapes interrupted by river courses.
The Sierra Norte is characterised by a variety of oak and cork oak ecosystems. Dehesas, riverside forests...that provide the great richness of landscapes of this natural space, the result of the interaction between natural phenomena and the use of this territory made by different societies over time, are what make us understand the natural park today as a changing and dynamic landscape.
Since ancient times, the great variety of resources offered by these mountains has attracted numerous cultures that have left their mark on the environment. The transformation suffered and the use of these resources are the central themes of this interpretative exhibition. The visitor through different exhibition media, some of them interactive, will be able to enter in a simple and accessible way.
Sierra Norte: Crossroads of cultures. The first shapers of the Landscape
From Paleolithic to present day, this territory has seen the passage of numerous civilizations that sought, since ancient times, the valuable natural resources of these lands. Their legacy has left us an important natural and cultural heritage.
Pre-Roman age: Examples of them are the important vestiges of the Neolithic age, such as the dolmens in Almadén de la Plata, utensils found in the Cave of Santiago in Cazalla de la Sierra, or the pre-Roman burial sites of the Page de San Ambrosio de Alanís or the fortified village of the Cerro de los Almendros in Constantina.
Romans, new resources, new life: With the Romans came times of prosperity to these lands, new urban centres were established and feats of engineering such as roads and bridges were built. The mining sites of Cerro del Hierro in San Nicolas del Puerto have been exploited for more than 2,000 years. The works were carried out in open pit mines and the activity exposed the whimsical forms originated by the dissolving action of the water on the limestone rock.
The arrival of the Arabs: The Arabs built walls around many towns and made important contributions to agriculture.
Christians, from the alcazaba to the castle: With the Christian conquest, many of the ancient Arab fortresses became castles, reflecting the area’s new dominant power.
Modern Age, time of change: The landscape underwent some huge changes between the 14th and 19th centuries, which have shaped the region as we know it today. It was at that time that large wooded areas were cleared to make way for grazing grounds for cattle, increasing the expanse of the dehesa.
20th century, crisis and migration: In the mid 20th century the mechanisation of the countryside took place, reducing the need for labour, so a significant part of the population emigrated to the big cities in search of work. At that time, many crops were abandoned and the scrub took over many mountains.
The current landscape of the Sierra Norte is the result of the many changes and contributions made by the cultural diversity that have passed through these lands. Through a multimedia animation the visitor can learn how the footprint of the ancient cultures that have populated this territory have shaped the landscape that we see today.
The Towns and Villages of the Park
Through an interactive wall map, you can discover the pretty towns and villages comprising this territory.
A mosaic of landscapes
Through this model of the natural space, the visitor can discover how in this territory a great diversity of natural environments coexist alongside others that have been transformed by the traditional use of humans, giving the Sierra Norte de Sevilla Park a rich and varied landscape.
Cork oaks, rebollares, quejigales and riverside forests have survived the passage of time thanks to a harmonious coexistence with people, whose best expression is the dehesa, possibly the Park’s most emblematic landscape.
The Sierra Norte de Sevilla Global Geopark.
The Sierra Norte de Sevilla Global Geopark is very varied from the geological point of view, and multiple places and points of geological interest have been identified, called Geocites, most of which are included in the Andalusian Georesource Inventories (Inventarios Andaluz de Georrecursos). lajunta.es/3p0r6.
Among them, to highlight landscapes of special beauty and uniqueness such as the karst landscape at Cerro del Hierro, which has an information point (lajunta.es/3p0r7) and where you can learn interesting facts about its origin and history, as well as a signposted route to enjoy its magnificent views.
Other elements are those known as berrocales, with large boluses, mainly granitic, of which you can see some samples next to the Cortijo del Berrocal Visitor Centre (lajunta.es/3p0r8). There are also some interesting hydrogeological elements, such as the Hoyas de Riscos Blancos or the Nacimiento (source) and the Huésna Waterfalls, the latter declared a Natural Monument and which you can explore by following the path of the same name. The geological resources of this Geopark have been used by humans for thousands of years, as well as the places linked to mining activity, the remains of which you can see by following signposted route of Cerro del Hierro.
The Nature Reserve today
The Sierra Norte de Sevilla Natural Park that we see today is the result of the natural and cultural processes that have developed over time. But we must not forget that the process continues and what is done today forms part of its future.
The landscape is quite dynamic, it has changed over time, and even today it is still transforming. After all, the landscape is the fruit of the intense relationship between man and nature.
A walk through the Mediterranean mountain
The dense oak and cork oak forests constitute the main original forest of this Natural Park. Next to these forests there are also large areas covered by rockrose and kermes oak, which are of great ecological importance. In general, the holm oak dominates in the drier and warmer areas, while in the areas with some humidity you can find the cork oak, although they often share the same space.
The dehesa: a balanced landscape
The dehesa is an excellent example of the balance between nature and human use of resources. In addition to providing numerous goods and being a source of economic development, it is home to a great diversity of fauna and flora.
The traditional management of the dehesas of Sierra Norte has allowed an economic development of the region, respecting its natural values for future generations. This is what is understood as Sustainable Development. This has led to the inclusion of this Natural Park in the Biosphere Reserve "Dehesas de Sierra Morena" (lajunta.es/3p0rd)
Shade and water. The river banks.
Running alongside the rivers and streams, there are forests of a closed and shady appearance known as riparian forests. These wooded area of land adjacent to the water are used by many animals as a place for breeding, feeding or shelter.
A space with a multitude of resources, activities and natural products
The products of our land
In past times the wines from the region were famous, until they fell into decline in the 17th century. It is then that the aguardiente (similar to schnapps) gained importance, the famous "Cazalla", which continues to be produced today in the traditional way. The oils and wines currently produced in the region are of excellent quality, as are its artisan cheeses, cured meats and honey.
The fruits of the land
This mountain range provides a multitude of resources to its inhabitants, some have been used for centuries, and others today constitute new sources of income, such as acorns, aromatic plants, cork, firewood... In addition, these mountains are the real lung of the province of Seville, providing water and fresh air, relaxation and well-being to everyone.
A community that is thriving with activity
The economy of this region has traditionally been based on livestock and agriculture. Although in the sierra there are many other activities linked to the mountain environment, such as the hunting activity, which is of great importance for the region (both small game and big game). Tourism and leisure is one of the sectors with the greatest possibilities of development in the Sierra Norte, as more and more visitors are coming to this region in search of beautiful landscapes, clean air and rest.