Route

Castillos and Batallas del Reino de Jaén

Description

The province of Jaén was for centuries the border between the Muslim and Christian kingdoms. The medieval struggles led to the construction of a network of unique strengths in Europe. In fact, in Jaén there are some of the most impressive castles in Spain whose supremacy was declining as Christian troops were reducing the Andalusian kingdoms. This route runs through strongholds raised in high hills, such as La Fortaleza de la Mota in Alcalá la Real, the Castle of Santa Catalina in Jaén or the Castle of Burgalimar, one of the oldest in Europe, of califal times, in Baños de la Encina. This route also shows the tracks of three battles that changed the course of the history of Spain, the Battle of Baécula (208 before Christ), the Battle of the Navas of Tolosa (1212) and the Battle of Bailén (1808).

Castles and Battlethe Kingdom of Jaén Today it is a testimony of peace and understanding, a fascinating cultural and tourist itinerary alive thanks to the programs of medieval cuisine and animation, which organize markets, tournaments and medieval dinners among the millennia stones.

In our microsite you will find all the necessary information:Castles and Battlethe Kingdom of Jaén

A kingdom of active, gastronomic, cultural and nature tourism is at stake and you should not miss it. A lot of adventures between the proud medieval castles with recreations and theatrical visits in the world's largest olive forest will make you remember episodes that changed the course of history.

Castles and Battle of the Kingdom of Jaén make up a tourist and cultural proposal that runs from north to south the western part of the province of Jaén and brings together proud castles located in strategic places of extraordinary beauty. It is the territory with the highest concentration of castles and fortresses in Europe and where two of the most significant battles in the history of Spain were developed: Bailén (1808, which was the beginning of the end of the French presence on Spanish soil and the first defeat of the Napoleonic army in the open field) and Navas de Tolosa (1212, which ended the Christian victory and accelerated the loss of Arab hegemony on the Iberian peninsula).

In addition, Castles and Battle of the Kingdom of Jaén allows you to enjoy hiking days or bike tours through the Green Way of Oil, to know and palate the extra virgin olive oil in the most productive territory of the world, to visit livestock farms of ligia bulls and pure-race horses, to dehesas of transhuman pastors, to make horse, donkey or 4 × 4 by their Natural Parks. Photographic hunting, bird watching or Iberian lince can complete a magnificent day in the saw areas. To know the mining heritage inherited from centuries of exploitation in the Linares- La Carolina district, the new populations of Charles III or to enjoy the gastronomy and the culture of the tapeum so rooted in this land, are a few more examples of what this destination offers you.

In short, it is a quiet, unmassified destination, of great rural authenticity with unique and excellently well-connected heritage resources, halfway on the highway that links Madrid with Seville.