The fourth stage of the Camino de la Encomienda Mellariense begins in Los Morenos. The village can also be explored through its dehesa landscape and distinctive building and festival culture. This makes it an interesting destination for travellers who want to combine hiking with rural culture.
Hiking Along Old Connecting Paths
The Camino de la Encomienda Mellariense is an eco-cultural hiking project launched at the initiative of the Fuente Obejuna municipal tourism office. Its aim was to restore old paths that connected the hamlets. Today, the trail follows public paths and links the 14 hamlets of Fuente Obejuna. The focus is therefore not only on a single destination, but also on the network of connections between settlements.
The fourth stage begins in Los Morenos and is divided into four sections, with a total length of 19.6 kilometres. This information provides a clear guide to the route, but not to the walking time. If you are planning a hike, check the current condition of the route before setting out.
The history of the project highlights the old connections between the hamlets. Hiking enthusiasts can therefore also see the Camino as a way to explore the rural structure of the municipality: its route links several hamlets rather than being limited to Los Morenos.
Dehesa and Rural Landscape
Los Morenos is closely connected with the dehesa landscape and rural life of Fuente Obejuna. The area around the village includes olive groves and nearby orchards. These landscape features give a stay a rural setting without limiting the experience to a single hike.
Beyond Los Morenos, the region also offers a distinctive view of the surrounding countryside: on routes through the rural hamlets of Fuente Obejuna, visitors can experience simple vernacular architecture and mountain landscapes. These sights complement the dehesa and the agricultural surroundings with an architectural perspective on the rural hamlets.
Building History and Santa Elena
The Centro de Salud (Los Morenos) was created from former one-room schools, whose buildings were converted into a health and community centre. The building is classified as being of architectural interest, Grade II. Its history thus brings together its former use as a school with health and community functions. Los Morenos also has a medical outpost operated by the Servicio Andaluz de Salud.
Another cultural connection leads to La Cardenchosa: Los Morenos and this hamlet share Santa Elena as their patron saint and use the same image. On 14 August 2024, a Eucharistic celebration was held in the park in Los Morenos; afterwards, the banner of Santa Elena was carried through the village streets. If you are planning a visit around this celebration, check the current programme beforehand.
Discover more destinations: Cañada Del Gamo, Piconcillo, Posadilla, Los Pánchez.
View the broader travel guide: Fuente Obejuna.
