Zuheros

Zuheros occupies a rock spur in the Sierra Subbetica with a ninth-century Moorish castle on the point above it and olive country spreading below, and its whitewashed lanes drop steeply from the castle to the edge of the village in a few hundred metres. Above it, reached by a winding road, is the Cueva de los Murcielagos, the bat cave, a system with formations and, more importantly, evidence of Neolithic occupation including wall paintings and one of the oldest known textile fragments in Europe. Guided tours run into the cave. The village sits within the Sierras Subbeticas geopark, and the Via Verde del Aceite, a rail trail on a disused olive-oil railway, passes below.

What you actually see

• The Moorish castle - a ninth-century fortress on the rock above the village.
• The bat cave - a cave system with Neolithic remains and wall paintings.
• The white lanes - steep streets dropping from the castle.
• The Via Verde - a rail trail on a disused line through the olive hills.

When to go

Spring and autumn; the Subbetica hills are green in spring and hot in summer. Cave tours are guided at set times and must be booked, particularly at weekends and holidays.

Honest expectations

The cave requires booking and the road up is narrow with tight bends. The village is small and seen in two hours. Parking is very limited and the streets are too narrow for most cars.

Nearby

Priego de Cordoba lies southeast; the Subbetica geopark and Cabra are close.