This municipality is part of:
Albanchez de Mágina
This town is located in the south of the province, between rolling hills, olive groves and fruit orchards. Its municipal district belongs to the Sierra Mágina Natural Park, which forms part of the Subbética and which offers beautiful and spectacular landscapes. The highest peak in the province of Jaén, Pico Mágina, is located in the municipality. As for the vegetation, there are frequent holm oak and gall oak groves, Aleppo pines and the Salgareño pine. It is also important for its rich and varied fauna.
Information
Data of interest
Tourist area: Sierra Mágina
Distance to the capital: 45
Altitude above sea level (m): 862
Extension (Km2): 39
No. of Inhabitants: 1228
Demonym: Albanchecinos:
Postal Code: 23538
Tourist information
Albanchez de Mágina (previously called Albanchez de Úbeda until the year 2000) is a municipality in the region of Sierra Mágina, in the province of Jaén, Andalusia. Most of the municipal district, as well as the town centre, are included in the Natural Park of Sierra Mágina. In its municipal district is located the highest elevation of the province of Jaén, the Pico Mágina, with an altitude of 2167 metres.
The access to the town is by the road A-320, with a detour in the town of Jimena by the road J-3105 or from Torres by the Puerto del Aznaitín (JA-3107). Distance from Jaén, 40 km, Úbeda and Baeza 35 km, Cazorla 55 km and Granada 117 km.
History
The oldest records of the history of Albanchez can be found in the Cueva de los Esqueletos, in the Paraje de las Zorreras. It was discovered in the 19th century by some peasants. Several skeletons were found, seated in a semicircle and armed with arrows, the points of which were sharp flint, with knives and spears also made of flint. Researchers have identified it as a multiple burial from the Copper-Bronze Ages. From the Roman period, several coin hoards and inscriptions have been found in the municipality, from which some researchers deduce the existence of a buried Roman city, Campaneana. ...
Albanchez de Mágina (previously called Albanchez de Úbeda until the year 2000) is a municipality in the region of Sierra Mágina, in the province of Jaén, Andalusia. Most of the municipal district, as well as the town centre, are included in the Natural Park of Sierra Mágina. In its municipal district is located the highest elevation of the province of Jaén, the Pico Mágina, with an altitude of 2167 metres.
The access to the town is by the road A-320, with a detour in the town of Jimena by the road J-3105 or from Torres by the Puerto del Aznaitín (JA-3107). Distance from Jaén, 40 km, Úbeda and Baeza 35 km, Cazorla 55 km and Granada 117 km.
History
The oldest records of the history of Albanchez can be found in the Cueva de los Esqueletos, in the Paraje de las Zorreras. It was discovered in the 19th century by some peasants. Several skeletons were found, seated in a semicircle and armed with arrows, the points of which were sharp flint, with knives and spears also made of flint. Researchers have identified it as a multiple burial from the Copper-Bronze Ages. From the Roman period, several coin hoards and inscriptions have been found in the municipality, from which some researchers deduce the existence of a buried Roman city, Campaneana. ...
Albanchez de Mágina (previously called Albanchez de Úbeda until the year 2000) is a municipality in the region of Sierra Mágina, in the province of Jaén, Andalusia. Most of the municipal district, as well as the town centre, are included in the Natural Park of Sierra Mágina. In its municipal district is located the highest elevation of the province of Jaén, the Pico Mágina, with an altitude of 2167 metres.
The access to the town is by the road A-320, with a detour in the town of Jimena by the road J-3105 or from Torres by the Puerto del Aznaitín (JA-3107). Distance from Jaén, 40 km, Úbeda and Baeza 35 km, Cazorla 55 km and Granada 117 km.
History
The oldest records of the history of Albanchez can be found in the Cueva de los Esqueletos, in the Paraje de las Zorreras. It was discovered in the 19th century by some peasants. Several skeletons were found, seated in a semicircle and armed with arrows, the points of which were sharp flint, with knives and spears also made of flint. Researchers have identified it as a multiple burial from the Copper-Bronze Ages. From the Roman period, several coin hoards and inscriptions have been found in the municipality, from which some researchers deduce the existence of a buried Roman city, Campaneana.
The urban centre of Albanchez must have originated between the 7th and 9th centuries, when the peasant population used the rocky outcrop, under which the village is situated, as a place of refuge. Around the 11th century, the town wall was built, which was then higher than the present one. The remains of a square tower remain of this primitive fortification.
After the Castilian conquest the castle was built on the crag, although it is difficult to say who built it, as during the Middle Ages Albanchez belonged to various lords, although above all it belonged to the Order of Santiago. In 1309 Ferdinand IV granted the town to the Order of Santiago, which created the Encomienda de Bedmar y Albanchez, whose presence lasted, with intervals, until the 19th century. From the information that appears in the records we know that it belonged to the lordship of Jódar, until 1338 when Ruy Fernández sold it to the Council of Úbeda for 1,500 maravedís (1,500 maravedís). Albanchez depended on Bedmar until the Infante Enrique de Aragón made it an independent town by privilege given in Valladolid on 18 November 1419, later confirmed by other kings.
After the Reconquest there was a demographic increase due to the repopulation measures and movements, the development of a markedly agricultural economy and the breeding of partridges and pigeons and of goats, sheep and cattle. The economic decline of the state in the 17th century accentuated this situation in Albanchez due to its subsistence economy. This is evidenced by the state of ruin of the castle at this time and the collapse of the roof of the parish church.
The 18th century and first half of the 19th century saw a timid attempt at recovery. This is demonstrated by the reconstruction of the church, which gave rise to the present-day church. Another of the most significant events is the definitive disappearance of the Encomienda as a result of measures such as the disentailment of Mendizábal in 1836.
Culture
Procession of the Hachones. The Rosario de los Hachones procession is the start of the patron saint fiestas of San Francisco de Paula, held from 3 to 6 May.
The participants walk through the streets carrying the hachones or torches made of esparto grass and fish. Four 'luminarias', large pyres made of wood and olive branches, are lit as the procession passes, and salt is sprinkled on them to make them crackle and prevent the procession from passing. The light of the torches and luminaries in the darkness of the night is reminiscent of the dawn, in a ritual that synthesises the nature of fire as a magical-symbolic element and the Christian tradition of praying the Rosary.
Gastronomy
Its gastronomy of Moorish origin is rich and varied, conserving the peculiarity of having the only corn stew that can be eaten in the whole province of Jaén.
It is a summer dish where the corn grains, once crushed in the mortar, will give body to a broth made with a sauce of peppers, beans, tomato and fresh chilli, which will have to be cooked with paprika, saffron, cumin, garlic and salt.
Another traditional dish from Albancheca is called 'borullos', which is a variant of 'andrajos con liebre', in which the dough is painstakingly cut into small pieces the size of puffed corn, accompanied by garden produce such as green peppers, potatoes, aubergines and baby broad beans.
The heritage of Andalusian gastronomy is present in many of the recipes and culinary habits preserved in Albanchez, such as black pudding, made with lamb's blood, which is eaten at all important celebrations, borullos and corn and wheat stews. As for sweets, almendrados, made with ground almonds, eggs, cinnamon, sugar and lemon zest, are the most popular.
For dessert, the hojuelas, which can be eaten with sugar and cinnamon or honey; or the no less Andalusian almendrados, a delicious combination of meringue, sugar and almonds baked in the oven. The refreshing melon salad was an essential dessert at the traditional weddings of yesteryear, and as a dessert or snack on autumn afternoons the no less traditional 'bodas', so called for the pitanceros betrothal of a dried fig, preserved in flour, and a piece of walnut, almond or peeled acorn that is placed inside it.
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