Quejigo del Amo, Natural monument oak tree in Valdepeñas de Jaén, Spain

Quejigo del Amo is a specimen of Quercus faginea, a Portuguese oak, in Valdepeñas de Jaén near the Quiebrajano reservoir. Its shape results from charcoal-making: the branches are sparse compared with the thickness of the trunk, which was pruned for charcoal. It is one of the largest specimens in Andalusia.

The tree's shape results from charcoal-making (carboneo): its branches were repeatedly cut for charcoal, which is why they are thin compared with the thick trunk. It was protected as a singular tree before the Junta de Andalucía declared it a Natural Monument in 2001. It is among the largest specimens of its kind in Andalusia.

Its second name, del Carbón, comes from the charcoal-making (carboneo) the tree was subjected to: branches were pruned for charcoal, which is why they are short compared with the thick trunk. The writer Antonio Gala mentions the tree in his novel El Imposible Olvido.

Two hiking trails lead to this tree: a longer route of about 12 kilometers from Valdepeñas de Jaén and a shorter one of about 5 kilometers starting at Puerto Pitillos. Visitors should bring sturdy footwear and plenty of water, as the trails pass through mountainous terrain.

This specimen of Quercus faginea is estimated to be between 500 and 1,000 years old, making it one of the oldest documented oaks in Andalusia. Its great age makes it a rare witness to the region's forest history.