Luque, Spain

Luque is a municipality in the Spanish province of Cordoba in southern Andalusia. It lies on the northern edge of the UNESCO- Geopark Sierras Subbéticas, the Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbéticas. Southwest of Luque, the mountains spread of Cabra. The karst mountains with the 1379 high Lobatejo as the highest peak is dominated by steep cliffs, deep canyons and numerous caves. The typical Mediterranean climate is characterized by mild winters and long hot summers. The average temperature in winter at 9 ° and 29.5 ° in summer. Rain falls mainly in winter, while there is no significant rainfall in the summer.

Luque had 3229 inhabitants on 1 January 2013 on a total area of 140.1 km ². The place is located in 662 m height and is surmounted by a castle from the period of Moorish rule, which was built in the 9th century on the ruins of a fortification from the Roman period. However, the currently visible remains date largely from the 13th century, when the castle was under Ferdinand III. was rebuilt. Another attraction is built in the Renaissance style parish church of La Asunción. The church was partially designed by Hernan Ruiz in the 16th century and includes a magnificent limestone facade. Inside is an altar in the Baroque style of the 17th century, and an image of the artist Juan Martínez Montanes, the San Juan Bautista la ( dt John the Baptist ) is.

About 5 km north-east lies the nature reserve of Laguna del Conde Natural Area. In the wetland wintering migratory birds, including the endangered white-headed duck ( Oxyura leucocephala ). The lake is also called the Laguna Salobral (German salt lake ) due to its high salinity and can be reached by Luque made ​​by bicycle or on foot along the route of a disused railway line.