Covering the northern tip of the Córdoba province, the region of Los Pedroches is characterised by the small towns and villages scattered over the plains of the Sierra Morena. The countryside of this area consists of oak woodland interspersed with large meadows and the characteristic dark grey granite of the region whose name, Los Pedroches derives from the word "Piedra" meaning stone. Bordering with the provinces of Badajoz in Extremadura and Ciudad Real in Castilla La Mancha and Jaen, this is one of the least known areas of Andalucía. Many of the villages reflect their proximity to Castilla and Extremadura in the architectural style of the traditional houses, where large granite stones have been used to construct the dwellings. There are many isolated and unvisited places in this remote corner of Andalucía where areas of outstanding and untouched natural beauty can still be found.

Pozoblanco
The captial of Los Pedroches, Pozoblanco is famous for its nationally known sheep's cheese. The town of 15,000 inhabitants is not an immediately attractive town. Even some years ago, the author Gerald Brenan said of the town: "Although Pozoblanco belongs to the Province of Córdoba, it cannot be said to lie in Andalucía. That low step up from the Guadalquivir valley to the meseta lands one in an altogether different geographical and ethnic region." Pozoblanco is a lively farming town which cultivates olives, grapes and livestock in the surrounding countryside. The large parish churches of Santa Catalina and San Sebastian are notable and an attractive church tower serves as a landmark in the town. The annual pilgrimage of the Virgen de la Luna is a popular event in Pozoblanco and in September, the Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de la Mercedes takes place with parades of locals in masks and fancy dress and cabezudos, which are giant papier maché heads, as well !as horse races.
Pozoblanco Golf Club is situated 3km outside of the town in the nature reserve of Cabezoliva. It is the first municipal golf course in Spain. About 150 or so foreigners live in Pozoblanco which has a range of services including a health centre, primary and secondary schools, hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. Pozoblanco is 75km from Córdoba along main roads.

Previously the capital of Los Pedroches, Pedroche today is a village of 1700 people. There are two restaurants and a library in the village which is located 10km northeast of Pozoblanco. Further into the countryside, near the border with Ciudad Real, the village of Torrecampo has a population of 1500. To the north of Torrecampo are the Sierra de Alcudia in the province of Ciudad Real, a largely untouched mountain wilderness. South of Torrecampo, Villanueva de Cordoba lies on the main N420 road. The town of 9000 inhabitants has a junior and a secondary school, a library, three restaurants and two hotels. The town is relatively isolated, being surrounded by expanses of mountainous countryside. Villanueva is 23km east of Pozoblanco. The small village of Conquista with a population of 500 is 12km northeast of Villanueva, just a couple of kilometres from River Guadalmez which separates Andalucía from Castilla La Mancha. Amenities in the village !include a library and a junior school. The countryside around these towns and villages is rich in wildlife including eagles, deer and wild boar.

In the north eastern corner of the Córdoba province is the Sierra de Cardeña-Montoro Natural Park where the village of Cardeña is located near to the border with Jaen. This untouched area consists of large oak and cork forests and deep ravines formed by the River Yeguas. Fauna found in the area include wild boar, deer, lynx, mongoose, wild cat, the severly endangered wolf as well as being home to birds of prey such as the golden eagle, kite and sparrowhawk. The village of Cardeña itself has a population of 1700, its amenities include 2 clinics, a library, a restaurant and a hotel. Cardena is situated on the N420 main road which runs south to Montoro and west to Villanueva and Pozoblanco. Cardeña is 30km from Villanueva.

Hinojosa del Duque
The second largest town of the Los Pedroches region with a population of 8000, Hinojosa is located to the north of the Cordoba province. The narrow streets of the town wind their way around the town's main square, where the recently restored Church of San Juan Bautista is located. This gothic-renaissance church has a Mudéjar ceiling and a Baroque altar piece, it is noted as being one of the finest religious buildings in the area. The houses in the town are largely constructed from the granite of the Los Pedroches region. There is a library in Hinojosa as well as a health centre, 4 restaurants and 2 guest houses. Located on the main N420 road, Hinojosa is 65km from the capital of Córdoba.

Belalcázar
Dominated by an impressive 15th century castle, Belalcázar is located away from all the the well known tourist routes at the northernmost point of Andalucía. The village of 4000 people contains relics of its illustrious past and its historic monuments are now in an attractive state of decay. Belying Belalcázar's location on the edge of Andalucía is the village's conservative style of architecture which is Castilian in character rather than Andalucían. The old part of the town is built on a hill which faces another hill upon which the great castle stands. This huge and crumbling castle has been noted as perhaps being one of the finest in the whole of Spain, indeed the name "Belalcázar" itself means "the beautiful castle". In between these two hills, between the village and the castle, there is a dip in which an old fountain stands which was and is used by the villagers for the washing of clothes. In the main square of the village itself, the 15th century! Church of Santiago stands, with an 18th century façade. To the east of the village are the ruins of a 15th century monastery and the old Church of San Francisco. Just outside the village, the convent of Santa Clara de la Columna is still inhabited by nuns but its gothic church and cloister are falling to ruin through lack of funds. There is one restaurant and one guesthouse in Belalcázar. The village is 8km north of Hinojosa del Duque.

Santa Eufemia
20km to the east of Belalcázar is the village of Santa Eufemia with a population of 1000 people. Situated in the foothills of the Sierra de Alcudia, there is a guesthouse and a restaurant in the village as well as a junior school and a medical clinic. Santa Eufemia is situated on the N502 main road, 80km north of Córdoba.

South of Santa Eufemia is a cluster of villages close to the town of Pozoblanco. El Viso has a population of 3000, a primary and secondary school, a clinic and a library. 3km south of El Viso, the smaller village of Villaralto with 1500 inhabitants is famous for its Easter celebrations where Judas is the most celebrated figure in the festivities. Before the Easter weekend, life-sized figures of Judas made out of straw are hung over the streets of the village, to be destroyed by the locals after mass on Easter Sunday. The village is also renowned for its annual fiesta in August where an enthusiastic and lively program consisting of singing, dancing and the highlight: torro de fuego - the burning bull. Traditionally a live bull had cones attached to its horns which were then ignited, sending the bull on a frenzied rampage around the town. Today however, the figure of a bull is used instead as a launchpad for an impressive and deafening fireworks display. 7km to the south of Villaralto, is the village of Villanueva del Duque with a population of 1700. Amenities here include a library, a clinic, a junior school and a guesthouse. West of Villanueva on the road towards Hinojosa is the tiny village of Fuente la Lancha with a population of 400. The village is situated on the main N420 road, 12km from Hinojosa del Duque.

Just west of Pozoblanco, on the crossroads between the N420 and the N502 main roads, the village of Alcaracejos acts as a small service centre for the surrounding area with its junior school, library, clinic, 4 restaurants and 3 guest houses. It has a population of 1500 and is 12km west of Pozoblanco. Closer to Pozoblanco, Añora is a village of 1500, 5km away from Pozoblanco on minor roads. 3km north is the village of Dos Torres with a population of 2500, a junior and secondary school and a clinic. To the northeast of Dos Torres in the heart of the countryside is the small village of El Guijo with 400 inhabitants. The village is relatively isolated, being away from the main roads and surrounded by countryside. El Guijo is 12km north of Pozoblanco.