Why an article on the castles of Jaen? Well, any route you choose in this province will pass through an ancient fortress. For centuries this territory was an important frontier between Christians and Muslims.
Some of the castles of Jaen that you will find in this post are prepared for educational visits, so they are ideal plans to do with children. In addition, the location of medieval castles is always elevated for political reasons, so that each of these constructions is a spectacular viewpoint that controls large areas of territory around it. It is undoubtedly an ideal trip for landscape lovers.
What you will find here
JAEN, FRONTIER TERRITORY
The north of Jaen is a natural border between the central plateau of Spain and Andalusia. The abrupt geography of Despeñaperros made it a difficult borderline for medieval armies to cross.
In the second half of the 9th century, the territory of Jaen was marked by the struggles between the emirate of Córdoba and the ‘cora of Tudmir’ (area of present-day Murcia). This region of eastern Spain was ruled by the muladi of Daysam ibn Ishaq. This Christian convert to Islam rebelled against the emirate of Córdoba by allying himself with another famous Muladi, Omar ben Hafsún.
The fighting would return in the 11th century. This is the time of the disintegration of the Caliphate of Córdoba into small kingdoms called ‘taifas’. These kingdoms fought among themselves encouraged by their rulers who sought control over their neighbours. Some of the castles of Jaen became the border between the taifas of Granada and Cordoba.
One of the key clashes in this territory was the Battle of Navas de Tolosa in 1212. This Christian victory enabled the Castilian armies to enter and advance into what is now the province of Jaen.
Between the 13th and 15th centuries, a large part of what is now the province of Jaen belonged to the Christian kingdom of Castilla, while the other part was governed by the Nasrid kingdom of Granada. The borders were largely maintained by agreements between the two kingdoms, which did not prevent constant skirmishes and incursions into other people’s territory. The border was protected by castles and watchtowers on both sides.
JAEN, THE PROVINCE WITH THE MOST CASTLES IN EUROPE.
No doubt it is. Jaen is the region with the most castles in Europe for the reasons we have already mentioned. A total of 237 infrastructures have been documented, of which 97 are castles, 126 are watchtowers and the rest are remains of walls, fortified settlements and infrastructures such as bunkers, watchtowers or contemporary machine gun and artillery nests.
JUST A FEW CASTLES OF JAEN
We are going to present you what, in our opinion, are the 8 most interesting castles of Jaen. At the end of the post you will find a map with many more. If you think that any other should be on the list you can put it in the comments.
CASTLE OF SANTA CATALINA
We begin our tour of the castles of Jaen by visiting the castle of the capital, the castle of Santa Catalina. The landscape is totally dominated, 360 degrees of vision from which you can see the main places of the province of Jaen.
Unlike other fortifications that we will see in this post, the Castle of Santa Catalina functioned in Islamic times as an Alcazaba. This means that inside there were residences for the Andalusian governors. During the visit you will be able to see decorative remains from this period. However, the present appearance of the castle corresponds to the Christian reforms that took place after the conquest of Fernando III in 1246. The large walled enclosure consists of six imposing towers, one of them of extraordinary dimensions, the keep.
During the French invasion in the early 19th century, French troops modified the castle by adding offices, stables, dungeons and a hospital area. As happened in many occupied places, such as the Alhambra, when they withdrew they destroyed a large part of its defensive elements.
The height of the castle of Santa Catalina with respect to the city is overwhelming (© Andalucía Turismo).
CASTLE OF LA IRUELA
The castle of La Iruela is one of the gateways to the natural park of the sierras of Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas. It is located in an unparalleled natural setting, and its views are perhaps some of the most beautiful in the whole of Jaen. At its feet lie vast expanses of olive groves, the most abundant crop in Jaen.
Although its origin is Islamic, this castle of Jaen underwent major alterations after the Christian conquest. In fact, the imposing keep that characterises this fortification was built by the Christians. A stroll around its main square reveals gates, towers, cisterns and even a church in ruins. The church of Santo Domingo was built in the 16th century in Renaissance style and it is hard to believe that such a beautiful building could have been destroyed during the Napoleonic invasion. Undoubtedly the ruined state of the castle evokes a romantic past of those times of fighting in the heart of Andalusia.
Spectacular castle of La Iruela in the early hours of the day.
CASTLE OF LA YEDRA IN CAZORLA
A few kilometres from the previous one and with almost as spectacular views, stands the castle of Cazorla. During the Late Middle Ages and during Christian rule, Cazorla and La Iruela were at odds over obtaining their own autonomy. After several ups and downs of governments, La Iruela achieved its independence from Cazorla.
Regarding the origin of the castle, it is almost always of Islamic origin, as evidenced by the remains of the wall built in mud of lime and stone. Of course the settlement will be earlier, as fragments of Roman and Late Antique pottery have been found. However, we owe the present appearance of the fortress to the Castilians of the 14th century.
In addition to the usual military function in the frontier land, the castle of La Yedra was also conceived as the residence of a feudal lord. Entering its rooms you can see a multitude of Gothic elements.
During the visit to this castle in Jaen you can also enjoy the museum of popular arts and customs of “Alto Guadalquivir”. In addition to ethnographic goods, this museum also exhibits pieces of medieval military and a small collection of sacred art.
Its name, “de la Yedra”, is due to the climbing plants that ascended its keep. The “Ivy” were already present in the seventeenth century, as it has been known by that name since that time.
At the foot of the mountains rises the fabulous castle of Cazorla (© Andalusia Tourism).
FORTRESS OF BURGALIMAR IN BAÑOS DE LA ENCINA
Now we travel to one of the castles of Jaén that we fall in love with, the fortress of Burgalimar. As we approach Baños de la Encina it is surprising to see such a well-preserved fortress and we will probably attribute it to the restorations. And although it has obviously been restored, the truly important thing about this fortress has been its extraordinary conservation since its construction in the tenth century.
It is even known who ordered its construction in 968. Al-Hakam II ordered the construction of a series of similar castles to house his troops between Cordoba and Jaen. Its current name, Burgalimar, comes from the Arabic “Burj al-Hamma”, tower of the Baths.
If you decide to visit this castle in Jaen, remember that Baños de la Encina is much more than a fortress. The streets of the town are recognized as some of the most beautiful in Andalusia. It is not a very large town, but it is full of very unique historical and artistic heritage.
In Baños de la Encina you can take an exciting journey that starts in one of the first civilizations of the West. This is the archaeological site of Peñalosa, a fortified town for the extraction of minerals.
The huge fortress of Burgalimar in front of the village of Baños de la Encina (© Andalusia Tourism).
CASTLE OF PIEDRAS NEGRAS OR TÍSCAR
Already in the times of the independent emirate, this castle appears in the sources as a place of battle in the year 876. It may not be a great fortress, but we love its location, nestled on the crest of the mountain like an eagle’s nest and dominating the landscape up to the territories of Granada. Access is quite difficult, it is through a very steep staircase, but contemplating it from afar is equally spectacular.
This fortress is part of the border between the kingdoms of Castile and Granada, so between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the castle changed from Christian and Muslim hands. It is in the last battle that the legend is generated that will lead to the construction of a beautiful sanctuary at the foot of the fortress. It is said that during that battle the Virgin of Tíscar appeared to help the Christian troops.
If you are going to visit this place, you cannot miss a visit to the Cueva del Agua, a spectacular natural monument that houses a fantastic water spring. From the heights you will contemplate the unique landscape of olive trees in Jaen.
The place where the castle of Tíscar is located is simply amazing ( © Andalucía Turismo).
LA MOTA FORTRESS
If there is another great fortress to visit in Jaén, it is La Mota. Here we are not talking about a simple castle, but about a huge enclosure that housed an entire city inside. On one of our first visits to the fortress of La Mota we recorded a very spectacular video that we leave you here.
One of the things that surprised us the most during the visit was the large number of wine cellars that the houses had in their basements. We talk about this topic in an extensive article about the wines of Andalusia that we recommend you read.
The visit to the fortress of La Mota is a pleasant and very illustrative activity. After the climb between walls and gates you can enjoy several spaces with exhibition resources that will take you back in time to discover the Middle Ages. You can also visit the church where audiovisuals are projected and whose floor is completely excavated. During the walk you will access the keep, some cellars and other buildings, as well as see medieval siege machinery.
We have chosen to put you a photo of the spectacular church excavated inside the fortress of La Mota.
CASTLE OF SEGURA DE LA SIERRA
The castle of Segura de la Sierra is a fortress located in the municipality of the same name. It is located at the top of a hill, offering impressive views of the surroundings, specifically the Sierra de Segura. The castle was built in the fourteenth century by the military order of Santiago, with the aim of protecting the border between Castile and Granada. During the French War of Independence it was the scene of important battles.
Currently, the castle of Segura de la Sierra is in an excellent state of conservation and has been declared a Historical Heritage of Spain. Visitors can tour its walls and towers, as well as enjoy the panoramic views from the top of the fortress. Accessing this castle in Jaen is a journey to the Middle Ages, as its rooms are decorated with all kinds of material of the time.
In addition, in the vicinity of the castle there are other places of interest, such as the church of Nuestra Señora del Collado and the village of Segura de la Sierra itself, which is listed as one of the most beautiful in Spain. In summary, the castle of Segura de la Sierra is a must-see for lovers of medieval history and architecture, offering a unique experience in an incomparable natural environment.
In this image of the castle of Segura de la Sierra you can see two different enclosures from different periods (© Andalusia Tourism).
CASTLE OF SABIOTE
To finish this review of the most outstanding castles in Jaén, we go to Sabiote. Here we will find a strength different from what we have seen so far. Its differences with the previous ones are due to the fact that it is not a medieval castle, but a fortress of the Renaissance bastion type.
There was a previous castle but due to its poor state of conservation it was restored in the sixteenth century. These reforms were carried out by Don Francisco de los Cobos, lord of the town and secretary of state and friend of Charles V.
From the castle there is a very interesting wall that surrounds the old town. Although it is partially preserved, you can go through several gates that gave access to the town.
Bastion of the castle of Sabiote (© Andalusia Tourism).
MAP OF THE CASTLES OF JAEN
The castles of Jaen are a tangible reminder of the military vicissitudes of the Andalusian Middle Ages. In addition, this set of historical and artistic assets offers a whole series of excellent plans to visit with your partner, family or friends.
eHere is a map of the castles of Jaen, not all of them are there, but they are the most interesting from our point of view.
