Los Pedroches Starlight Reserve
Its commitment to the defence of high-quality night skies and star-gazing in 2016 led to the declaration of Valle de Los Pedroches in the province of Córdoba as a Starlight Reserve, making it the tenth area in the world to be so declared.
It is located in the extreme northeast of the province of Córdoba, where it borders the provinces of Badajoz and Ciudad Real, making Los Pedroches the northernmost territory in Andalusia and it has a surface area of 3,500 km2. The rich natural heritage of the area, consisting of extensive meadows and areas far from urban centres, makes it one of the best places in the world to enjoy astronomy.
It consists of 17 villages: Cardeña, Conquista, Villanueva de Córdoba, El Guijo, Santa Eufemia, El Viso, Villaralto, Alcaracejos, Torrecampo, Añora, Pozoblanco, Pedroche, Dos Torres, Hinojosa del Duque, Fuente la Lancha, Villanueva del Duque and Belalcázar. In the Los Pedroches region there are numerous observation points for star-gazers. These feature peri-urban parks, chapels and old mines that are distributed throughout the Starlight Reserve.
The agricultural and livestock activity in the Los Pedroches region favours practically zero air pollution, which, together with the night time darkness, makes it ideal for stargazing. Since 2019, there have been stellar lookout points in the 12 municipalities where you can contemplate the spectacular night sky after sunset.
Also, in Pozoblancoand Villanueva de Córdoba, their love for celestial bodies is manifested through the historic brotherhood of the "Virgen de Luna" (Virgin of the Moon) and its strange relationship with NASA and the Apollo XI mission. I wonder if you knew that in the chapel there are letters of thanks from the astronauts Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin?
The sky in Los Pedroches is an essential part of its environment, a gift from nature for lovers of astrotourism. A region that will surprise visitors both during the day and at night.
