Spanish Juniper Forest

The Moratalla White Juniper Forest is one of the most unique natural landscapes in the high-altitude districts of El Sabinar and El Calar de la Santa. In these mountains, centuries-old junipers survive, with twisted trunks and a majestic bearing, forming an ancient forest inherited from colder eras and unique to the Region of Murcia. The Spanish juniper (Juniperus thurifera), a protected species, is a tree with a dense, conical crown and highly distinctive aromatic wood. Some of the finest centuries-old specimens are preserved in these areas, true natural monuments that lend character to the landscape. Amidst rocky outcrops, silent slopes and pure mountain air, visitors discover an environment of great ecological value, where black pine, juniper and wildlife perfectly adapted to the altitude coexist. To walk through this juniper forest is to enter an ancient, authentic and vibrant woodland that preserves the natural essence of Moratalla intact.