This municipality is part of:
Segura de la Sierra
Segura de la Sierra is a beautiful village located in the heart of the Sierra de Segura, in the northeast of Andalusia. It is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia and as such forms part of the Network of the Most Beautiful Villages of Spain.
Segura gives its name to a river, to a region and is synonymous with history. Visiting this town we can soak up history and heritage in its old quarter, or savour nature at its best in the numerous hamlets of its extensive municipal territory.
From its castle, of Muslim origin, you can enjoy impressive panoramic views of the whole area, which is distinguished by its wide mountain range, with an enormous natural and forest wealth. It forms part of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park, the largest protected area in Spain.
This marvellous environment, its streets and historic corners mean that Segura de la Sierra has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site and a Picturesque Spot.
Segura de la Sierra and its high peaks were used to illuminate the best literature of the Renaissance, by Jorge Manrique, author of the "Coplas a la muerte de mi padre".
Information
Data of interest
Tourist area : Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas
Distance to the capital (km) 160
Altitude above sea level (m) 1145
Extensión (Km2): 224
No. of Inhabitants 1986
Demonym Segureños
Postal Code 23379
Tourist information
Culture
The town offers the physiognomy of times gone by, conserving its steep and silent narrow streets. Of its rich and varied heritage, we highlight the following::
- The castle, of Mudejar origin, eternal watchtower located at the highest point of the village and surrounded by an ancient wall that still preserves some towers. The Torre del Homenaje, which is 18.50 m. high and from which you can enjoy impressive panoramic views of the Sierra del Segura, stands out. Inside the castle we find: the chapel, parapets, covered with wood and gabled roofs, a cistern and Arab baths.
- Santa María del Collado Parish Church in Segura de la Sierra. It was built in the 16th century on the site of the old Romanesque church. Napoleon's troops set fire to it and it was restored between 1814 and 1817. It has a single rectangular nave with a vaulted roof. On the outside, its tower built with masonry stands out. With a quadrangular floor plan, it has a first body with loopholes and a second body covered with an octagonal pyramid on which there is a wrought iron cross. It has accumulated a rich religious iconography during its history.
- Town Hall. Another Renaissance paradigm, former home of the Society of Jesus. It opens with a linteled arch with highlighted keystones, flanked by cre ...
Culture
The town offers the physiognomy of times gone by, conserving its steep and silent narrow streets. Of its rich and varied heritage, we highlight the following::
- The castle, of Mudejar origin, eternal watchtower located at the highest point of the village and surrounded by an ancient wall that still preserves some towers. The Torre del Homenaje, which is 18.50 m. high and from which you can enjoy impressive panoramic views of the Sierra del Segura, stands out. Inside the castle we find: the chapel, parapets, covered with wood and gabled roofs, a cistern and Arab baths.
- Santa María del Collado Parish Church in Segura de la Sierra. It was built in the 16th century on the site of the old Romanesque church. Napoleon's troops set fire to it and it was restored between 1814 and 1817. It has a single rectangular nave with a vaulted roof. On the outside, its tower built with masonry stands out. With a quadrangular floor plan, it has a first body with loopholes and a second body covered with an octagonal pyramid on which there is a wrought iron cross. It has accumulated a rich religious iconography during its history.
- Town Hall. Another Renaissance paradigm, former home of the Society of Jesus. It opens with a linteled arch with highlighted keystones, flanked by cre ...
Culture
The town offers the physiognomy of times gone by, conserving its steep and silent narrow streets. Of its rich and varied heritage, we highlight the following::
- The castle, of Mudejar origin, eternal watchtower located at the highest point of the village and surrounded by an ancient wall that still preserves some towers. The Torre del Homenaje, which is 18.50 m. high and from which you can enjoy impressive panoramic views of the Sierra del Segura, stands out. Inside the castle we find: the chapel, parapets, covered with wood and gabled roofs, a cistern and Arab baths.
- Santa María del Collado Parish Church in Segura de la Sierra. It was built in the 16th century on the site of the old Romanesque church. Napoleon's troops set fire to it and it was restored between 1814 and 1817. It has a single rectangular nave with a vaulted roof. On the outside, its tower built with masonry stands out. With a quadrangular floor plan, it has a first body with loopholes and a second body covered with an octagonal pyramid on which there is a wrought iron cross. It has accumulated a rich religious iconography during its history.
- Town Hall. Another Renaissance paradigm, former home of the Society of Jesus. It opens with a linteled arch with highlighted keystones, flanked by crenellated pilasters and Doric columns. The second section is embellished by a continuous balcony, a triangular pediment decorated with studs and oval noble coats of arms with feathered helmets.
- Imperial Fountain. A monument that reflects the transition between the Gothic and Renaissance periods. It is built in front of the church and dates from 1517. It has a large pediment divided into three streets separated by Ionic columns. In the central street there is a large coat of arms bearing the arms of Charles V.
- House of Jorge Manrique. On the façade there is a semicircular arch decorated with vegetal motifs, flanked by segmental pilasters and complemented by small Ionic columns. The coat of arms of the Figueroa family, Jorge Manrique's maternal family, is carved in stone above it.
- Church of the Jesuits. Built in the last quarter of the 16th century. It has Renaissance decoration, with a semicircular arch with reliefs of the apostles. This building has now been remodelled and converted into an assembly and exhibition hall.
- Bullring. It is located on the outskirts of the village in the old parade ground and stables. It is one of the oldest and most curious as it is quadrangular.
- Arab baths (Hammam). Used not only for hygiene and hygiene, but also as a social gathering place. They were used by both men and women, but at different times. They consist of three longitudinal naves, corresponding to the cold rooms, the outermost, and the warm and hot rooms, the innermost. They were enclosed by double horseshoe arches and barrel vaults with skylights. They are estimated to have been built in the 11th and 12th centuries.
- Walling and defence. Many sections of the town walls can still be seen today. One of the best preserved is the Water Tower, so called because its mission was to protect a water spring that supplied the citadel. Others that are still preserved are: the Torre de las Eras, the Torre de las Escuelas and the Pozo de la Nieve. This last space was used to store water and snow during the winter season, and then to use them by means of drains that existed in the lower part.
- Access gates. There were four gates to access the fortifications of Segura de la Sierra: La Nueva, La Gontar, La de Catena and La de Orcera.
Nature
Segura de la Sierra is located in the centre of the mountain range to which it gives its name, the whole municipality is part of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas National Park.
The flora, as there is such a big difference in altitude in the municipality, is diverse: In the high mountain, we will find the laricio pine, with flexible wood and rich in resin, and the holly; in the middle mountain live the black pine, whose wood is very resistant to putrefaction, and can reach 45 m. in height and the yew, whose wood is very resistant to putrefaction, and can reach 45 m. in height. In the lower mountains, there are Aleppo pines, gall oaks, oaks, holm oaks, kermes oaks, kermes oaks, olive trees and other endemic and aromatic plants.
The fauna, like the flora, is also very diverse. There are birds of prey and scavengers: eagles, griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures; big game animals: deer, mouflon, fallow deer, wild boar..., small game animals: partridge, rabbit, hares, crows, crows, turtledoves, pigeons, doves and foxes.
Various species of birds, fish: trout, barbel, bogue...; mammals: bats, wild cat, marten, badger, otter, fox and genet.
An area with an enormous natural and forest wealth, a place to feel that nature is alive.
Festivals and Events
The Segureños celebrate the following fiestas:
- Fiestas Patronales de la Virgen del Rosario. They take place from 4th to 8th October, and are held in honour of the Patron Saint. On the 8th the most emotional event takes place: the procession of the Virgin on the shoulders of the women of Segura. During these days the bullfighting festivities take place in the peculiar quadrangular bullring, and the Serrano bowling competitions.
- San Vicente. This is the patron saint of the town and is celebrated on 22nd January. Bonfires are lit outside the town walls in his honour. It is a deep-rooted custom in the sierra to light "luminarias" (bonfires) during the winter festivities. This is done on the day of "La Pura" (8 December), Santa Lucía (13 December), Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, San Antón (17 January), San Vicente (22 January) and ending on Candelaria (2 February).
- Pilgrimage of San Isidro. This is the patron saint of Cortijos Nuevos, the most important of Segura's numerous hamlets. It is held in the area of La Lomilla, next to the hamlet of El Ojuelo.
Gastronomy
The gastronomy of Segura de la Sierra is rich and full of tradition, it has been able to combine the agricultural customs with those of the shepherds, or those dedicated to the work of the wood carried out by the felling of pine trees in this mountain range.
The diversity of the dishes found in the town is characterised by the use of the products found in the area: olive oil, bush meat in the hunting season (wild boar, partridge, rabbit, Segureño sheep meat), and in the specific seasons, mushrooms and chanterelles (guízcanos), or the asparagus that grow so well in the sierra.
- "Galianos", cakes made with bread, rabbit and spices.
- "Andrajos", with cakes of flour, meat and spices.
- Migas", made of bread to which chorizo sausage, bacon... is added.
- Gachamiga", flour and potato with all kinds of sweet and savoury toppings.
- "Cordero al ajillo pastor', 'caldereta pastora', 'cordero en ajo cabañil', in all these dishes the base is the same: meat from Segureño sheep.
- "Pisto gandul' is made with goat, lamb or rabbit and is eaten at fairs or wakes. Hence the name 'gandul'.
- "Cecina', made from cured sheep or goat meat.
- "Ajopringue' is eaten at slaughter and is made from minced pig's liver.
In confectionery, "hornazos", a dessert of oil cake with a hard-boiled egg in the centre, are well known.
History
The history of the municipality of Segura de la Sierra dates back to the 4th millennium B.C. according to the numerous archaeological sites that testify the human presence in those times.
Very close to the town centre is the settlement called Segura La Vieja, a few kilometres from the village of Moralejos, which has always been attributed to Iberian and Phoenician peoples. It will be the scene of wars between Romans and Carthaginians.
But it is undoubtedly with the Islamic people (781) that the town, which they call Saqura, experienced its golden age as a stronghold in the area.
In the 9th and 10th centuries, after the collapse of the Caliphate of Córdoba, Segura de la Sierra had several periods of independence that made it gain importance.
It was conquered by Christian troops, becoming part of the Order of Santiago by donation of Alfonso VIII.
In 1243, under King Ferdinand III, it passed to the Crown of Castile and was part of the Kingdom of Murcia until 1833, the year in which the current province of Jaén was created.
In the 16th century it enjoyed a period of great splendour, provided by the large quantity of timber produced in its territory and which, transported by the River Guadalquivir, supplied the whole of Andalusia. In the 18th century, the State converted the Sierra, under the name of Sierra de Segura, into a Maritime Province, no doubt because it needed timber for the construction of its ships.
In 1517, after the visit of Charles I to the square, the fountain was built in his honour. It is a Renaissance fountain, although clearly transitional.
The Napoleonic invasion (1810) turned the town into a huge bonfire, destroying the archives and taking part of its history with it.
Illustrious figures:
- Jorge Manrique (1440-1479), Castilian poet and author of "Coplas por la muerte de mi padre", considered one of the greatest works of Spanish literature. The origin of his birth is debated with Paredes de Nava (Palencia).
We would like to record two deep-rooted traditions in Segura de la Sierra:
- The Jota serrana. Of the popular dances of Segura de la Sierra, the Jota serrana is undoubtedly the one with the most personality. It is performed alone or with whole or half seguidillas. It is performed at popular festivals.
- Living Stations of the Cross. It is performed by the villagers and takes place in different parts of the village, with excellent views of the Sierra de Segura.
Source of information
Ayuntamiento de Segura de la Sierra
Imágenes
Contenido Audiovisual
? ![]()
