Jaen, Andalucia

Jaen Province - Overview:

Apart from its historic city, the Andalucian province of Jaen is probably best known for its abundance of olive trees which dominate the landscape, dotted with whitewashed farms and houses, set against a deep orange backdrop - the colour of the soil.

Jaen is the world's leading producer of olives and Spanish olive oil, little wonder then that in Jaen city during the first week of October, it is home of the world's largest trade fair devoted to this Mediterranean crop.

The expansive landscape of Jaen province is unspoilt and very beautiful with small towns featuring magnificent Renaissance buildings, fine palaces, richly endowed churches and stately public squares.

Jaen Province - Natural parks and reserves:

A veritible nature lover's paradise, Jaen province encompasses the Sierras de Cazorla nature park, arguably one of the most beautiful nature parks in Andalucia. The source of Andalucia's great waterway, the Guadalquivir River - used by the Phoenicians and Romans to sail up into the heartland of Seville and Cordoba - starts as a mountain creek in the lovely wildlife preserve of the Sierra de Cazorla.

Other nature areas in Jaen Province include the Despenaperros Natural Park, Sierra de Andujar, Sierra Magina, Segura and Las Villas Natural Parks, Alto Guadalquivir, Cascada de la Cimbarra and Laguna Grande natural areas; with nature reserves at Laguna Honda and Laguna del Chinche.

Andujar natural park is the starting point for excursions to the rugged forests of Sierra Morena, part of the vast natural barrier between Andalucia and Castile, through which runs the dramatic mountain pass called el Desfiladero de Despenaperros - generally referred to as The Gateway to Andalucia.

Jaen Province - Historic sightseeing:

Amid this region of oak forests and bull-breeding ranches stands the Sanctuary of La Virgen de la Cabeza, a 13th century shrine built to house a statue of the Madonna. According to legend, this was sent to Spain by Saint Peter. However, the shrine was almost completely destroyed during a bloody siege during the Spanish Civil War, and replaced with the current, massive grey stone monument during the Franco regime.

Just beyond the fashionable town of Cazorla and on the way to the Nature Park and the sierra, is the fairy-tale crusaders' castle of La Iruela, perched on a stony crag. In the northeast lie the villages of Hornos, Orcera, Benatae and Siles, as well as the castle-town of Segura, at 4,000 ft. above sea level, which is distinguished by its bullring carved out of the mountainside.

The thriving olive-farming town of Andujar, in the north of the province, lies on the banks of the Guadalquiver River and boasts several fine monuments, such as the Church of Santa Maria de la Mayor, with its Spanish Renaissance facade and Moorish-style bell tower. Inside is a painting by El Greco, Christ in the Garden of Olives.

The town has a Roman bridge with 15 arches spanning the muddy waters, and like so many towns of the region, is overlooked by the ruins of a mightly Moorish fortress. Here market stalls specialise in local pottery, honey and herbs from the nearby Sierra Morena.

The region is the site of one of the most decisive battles fought during the Reconquest - in the year 1212, at a place called Navas de Tolosa - which marked the beginning of the end of the Moorish domination of Andalucia.

In the south of Jaen province is the mighty fortress of Alcala la Real, taken by the Christians in the mid-14th century and used as the launching point for attacks on the Moorish kingdom until the conquest of Granada 150 years later.

Jaen province is home to two of Andalucia's most impressive and ancient monumental towns, standing only a few miles apart from one another, each on its own fortified hill, and always mentioned in the same breath: Ubeda and Baeza.

To the north, in the region of El Condado and the Guadalimar, Guadalen and Guarrizas rivers, you can explore sleepy, ancient villages such as Ibros, Canena, Vilches, Arquillos, Navas de San Juan, Sabiot and Torreperogil.

Jaen Province - Rural Agriculture:

Olivares de Jaen (The Olive Groves of Jaen) is the title of an often-recited 20th century poem, a sort of meditation on the seemingly endless hills planted with the precious tree first brought to Spain by the Romans, and which is now the mainstay of the Andalucian agricultural economy.

While exploring this unique landscape you cannot fail to be impressed by the sights. All of Jaen Provinces' villages are devoted to the olive oil industry, such as Torredonjimeno, Higuera and Santiago de Calatrava, Martos, Alcaudete, Frailes,Valdepenas de Jaen, Otinar, Campillo de Arenas, Cambil, Huelma, Pegalajar and Mancha Real.

Jaen Province - Our holiday accommodation and service:

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So, if you're looking for an activity holiday walking, cycling and trekking in Andalucia's inland mountains; exploring Spain's fascinating white villages, rural towns and historic cities such as Jaen, Ronda or Seville; fancy a spot of sailing, SCUBA diving, wind surfing, swimming, sunbathing or relaxing on great beaches (much of Spain's south coast is also ideal for a spot of winter sun); or you just want to simply escape the tourist masses with a privately owned apartment, cottage or villa with a pool, call our holiday team today. We can also assist you with flights to Spain, ferry travel and holiday car hire.