Sabinar de Calatañazor, Ancient juniper forest reserve in Calatañazor, Spain
The Sabinar de Calatañazor is a juniper forest set on limestone terrain at about 1000 meters elevation, where individual trees grow above 14 meters tall with substantial trunk widths. The landscape feels raw and open, with gnarled trees that look like wooden sculptures rising from the rocky ground.
The forest has existed since the Tertiary period and some individual trees are over 2000 years old, making this place a living archive of landscape history. Protected now, the reserve preserves these ancient specimens for future generations.
The juniper wood shaped how people built their homes here for generations. You can see this connection today in the traditional houses scattered through the village.
You can start your visit at the Park House located in a historic tower, where staff provide maps and guidance for exploring the reserve. Wear sturdy shoes as the terrain is rocky and uneven throughout the area.
The hollow trunks of ancient junipers provide natural shelters where bats and nocturnal birds nest. This hidden life inside the trees makes the forest an active ecosystem even after dark.
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